Review: Vanguard - Ann Aguirre

The voyage of a lifetime awaits.

Since the war ended, Tegan has dreamed of an epic journey, so when she has the opportunity to sign on as ship’s doctor, she can’t wait. It’s past time to chart her course. Millie Faraday, the kindest girl in the free territories, also yearns to outrun her reputation, and warrior-poet James Morrow would follow Tegan to the ends of the earth.

Their company seems set, but fate brings one more to their number. Tegan will battle incredible odds while aiding Szarok, the Uroch vanguard, who has ventured forth to save his people. Szarok is strange and beautiful, like a flower that blooms only in the dark. She shouldn’t allow him close, as such a relationship is both alien and forbidden. But through stormy seas and strange lands, she will become stronger than she ever knew.

Adventures almost never go according to plan, and when Tegan understands what her heart truly wants, it might change her life forever…

Razorland Series:
Foundation (Free short story on the Tor website)
Enclave
Endurance (Novella)
Outpost
Restoration (Free short story on the MacMillan website)
Horde
Vanguard

Visit Ann Aguirre's website for more information

Review:
I was really looking forward to reading Tegan's story but I have to admit I was a little wary when I realised it was going to involve a romance between her and the Uroch vanguard Szarok. I'd been rooting for her and James in the earlier books so I was disappointed to see my ship sinking and to be honest I just couldn't see how I'd be able to get on board with a relationship between a human and one of the uroch, it wasn't something I could quite get my head around! I'm very happy to say that Ann Aguirre totally proved me wrong with Vanguard though and I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Tegan has saw the worst of what humanity has to offer before she was rescued by Deuce and Fade and although her life has changed dramatically since then and her training as a healer has brought her a great amount of respect she's still wary of people in general and men in particular which is completely understandable. She has a great sense of right and wrong though and in spite of everything she's been through she's incredibly compassionate and caring so it shouldn't be much of a surprise when she automatically connects with Szarok after seeing him being ostracised by the people around her. She understands exactly what the uroch risked when they chose to help humanity and she's angry for the way he is treated now that they are asking for help in return. I don't want to go into too much detail but I loved the slow build of their relationship, the way they gradually let their guards down around each other and learn to trust and the slowly growing friendship that blossoms into a very unlikely attraction. They were so sweet together and it didn't take long for me to start rooting for the pair of them.

I also found it incredibly interesting to see how the world was being put back together after the big battle. We get a chance to catch up with a lot of the previous characters which was nice but it was definitely Tegan and Szarok who were the stars of this book. James has a story of his own which I enjoyed but I have to admit I wasn't as invested what was happening with him even though I liked Millie too. This was a fitting end to the series, it tied up a lot of loose ends and gave us a good idea about what life would be like for humanity and the uroch in the future and I'm very glad we got this chance to revisit the world Ann Aguirre has created.

Source: I was given a signed copy from the author.

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Review: Horde - Ann Aguirre

The epic conclusion to Ann Aguirre's USA Today-bestselling Razorland trilogy.

The horde is coming.

Salvation is surrounded, monsters at the gates, and this time, they're not going away. When Deuce, Fade, Stalker, and Tegan set out, the odds are against them. But the odds have been stacked against Deuce from the moment she was born. She might not be a Huntress anymore, but she doesn't run. With her knives in hand and her companions at her side, she will not falter, whether fighting for her life or Fade's love.

Ahead, the battle of a lifetime awaits. Freaks are everywhere, attacking settlements, setting up scouts, perimeters, and patrols. There hasn't been a war like this in centuries, and humans have forgotten how to stand and fight. Unless Deuce can lead them.

This time, however, more than the fate of a single enclave or outpost hangs in the balance. This time, Deuce carries the banner for the survival of all humanity.

Razorland Series:
Foundation (Free short story on the Tor website)
Enclave
Endurance (Novella)
Outpost
Restoration (Free short story on the MacMillan website)
Horde
Vanguard

Visit Ann Aguirre's website for more information

Review:
With the Horde camped all around Salvation and everyone Deuce has come to care about once again in danger she has set out with Fade, Tegan and Stalker to try and get help from the nearest settlements. The number of Freaks they're up against leave them facing almost impossible odds but Deuce and her friends are determined and as they gradually gain the respect of other settlements their army starts to grow. They're going to need a miracle if they have any chance of winning though and the assistance they badly need comes from a very unexpected quarter.

This book was fantastic, it's fast paced, full of action and pretty bloody and brutal. I think it's probably the darkest book in the series but there were moments of lightness that stopped it being too dark. I love that Ann Aguirre doesn't try to sugarcoat things though, this is a war, the stakes are high and every victory they have is going to cost them. Sometimes the price is almost too much to bear but giving in isn't an option so Deuce just has to find a way to keep pushing on. She's come such a long way since the first book and now she's such a wonderful young woman, she's not perfect and she makes mistakes but she has the heart of a lion and she is determined to make a positive difference with her life. The relationship between her and Fade has been great, they've been through so much together and Fade is in a bad place at the start of this book but Deuce never gives up on him and they fight to find their way back to each other.

Horde had some brilliant twists to it and there were a few shock moments that I definitely wasn't expecting. In fact one thing upset me far more than I would have expected it to. We're introduced to some great new characters along the way and there are a few familiar faces from Deuce's past that I was really happy to see. It was interesting to see how each different settlement lived and how they went about protecting themselves in this new world. Travel between the settlements was treacherous so each group had to be pretty self sufficient but some of the towns and villages they came across were more dangerous than others.

I know Horde was originally meant to be the final book in this trilogy and as such it's actually a pretty great ending that ties up all the major threads that have been running through the series. I'm glad that Ann Aguirre decided to give fans another story set in this world though, I love Tegan and am looking forward to spending more time with her but more than anything I'm curious to see how the world goes about rebuilding after the major battle in this book.

Source: Purchased

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Review: Outpost - Ann Aguirre

Deuce’s whole world has changed.

Down below, she was considered an adult. Now, topside in a town called Salvation, she’s a brat in need of training in the eyes of the townsfolk. She doesn't fit in with the other girls: Deuce only knows how to fight.

To make matters worse, her Hunter partner, Fade, keeps Deuce at a distance. Her feelings for Fade haven’t changed, but he seems not to want her around anymore. Confused and lonely, she starts looking for a way out.

Deuce signs up to serve in the summer patrols—those who make sure the planters can work the fields without danger. It should be routine, but things have been changing on the surface, just as they did below ground. The Freaks have grown smarter. They’re watching. Waiting. Planning. The monsters don’t intend to let Salvation survive, and it may take a girl like Deuce to turn back the tide.

Razorland Series:
Foundation (Free short story on the Tor website)
Enclave
Endurance (Novella)
Outpost
Restoration (Free short story on the MacMillan website)
Horde
Vanguard

Visit Ann Aguirre's website for more information

Review:
Everything is different now that Deuce and the others have arrived at Salvation and she's finding it hard to fit in. She's not comfortable with the way they expect girls to dress nicely and learn useful skills like cooking and sewing and the town just don't know what to make of her tomboyish ways. It's also hard being treated like a child and expected to go to school when she's spent so many years fending for herself and helping to protect others in her role as a hunter. Things start to look up when she proves she has the skills to be one of the town guards and is given a job helping to protect the farmers during the summer harvest but as the Freaks continue to get smarter and prove a far greater danger than ever before she's going to have her work cut out for her.

I'm so glad I've finally made a start on this series, it's one I'm really enjoying and I loved seeing how much Deuce grew as a character in this book. What I love about her is that she accepts that she doesn't know everything and she's willing to ask questions and learn what she needs to. She also knows where her strengths are though and she refuses to let anyone put her in a box just because of her gender. I had to admire her for standing up for what she wanted when it would have been so much easier to go along with the town folk's expectations for her. I felt sorry for her as she struggled to find her place though, Tegan found it so much easier to fit in and preferred to spend time with new friends because Deuce and the others reminded her of a difficult time, Fade is still jealous and is also keeping his distance so the only one it seems like she can really rely on is Stalker.

I'll admit I was worried in the first book that it might turn into a dreaded love triangle but I'm convinced now it's not going to happen. Stalker is obviously interested in Deuce but it's very clear she only has feelings for Fade and I can't imagine that changing any time soon. I wasn't at all keen on Stalker's character in the first book - let's face it he's done some horrific and pretty unforgivable things! - but he actually really grew on me in this book. At least he's willing to admit the things he did wrong and he wants to make amends for them and who knows how we would have acted if we'd been born in his shoes. I think one of the things I like most about Deuce is how self aware she is, she recognises that she acts in certain ways because of the way she was raised but she wants to learn and do better and she recognises a similar quality in Stalker. As much as Stalker has grown on me I'm still 100% on team Fade though! I was irritated with him for pushing Deuce away at the beginning of Outpost but he's been through a lot and his insecurities were showing. When it comes down to it he always has Deuce's back when she needs him the most and I love seeing them fight alongside each other.

This series is quite brutal and it doesn't shy away from the violence of post-apocalyptic life which makes it feel very believable. There is always plenty of action and I've flown through both books so far so this series certainly didn't suffer with second book syndrome. Ann Aguirre has kept the pacing tight and it's clear she has a solid plan on where the series is going from here. After that ending I'm very interested to see what happens to all the characters next and I'm very glad that I don't have to wait a year for the next book to release before I can read it!

Source: Purchased

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Review: Enclave - Ann Aguirre

New York City has been decimated by war and plague, and most of civilization has migrated to underground enclaves, where life expectancy is no more than the early 20's. When Deuce turns 15, she takes on her role as a Huntress, and is paired with Fade, a teenage Hunter who lived Topside as a young boy. When she and Fade discover that the neighboring enclave has been decimated by the tunnel monsters--or Freaks--who seem to be growing more organized, the elders refuse to listen to warnings. And when Deuce and Fade are exiled from the enclave, the girl born in darkness must survive in daylight--guided by Fade's long-ago memories--in the ruins of a city whose population has dwindled to a few dangerous gangs.

Ann Aguirre's thrilling young adult novel is the story of two young people in an apocalyptic world--facing dangers, and feelings, unlike any they've ever known.

Razorland Series:
Foundation (Free short story on the Tor website)
Enclave
Endurance (Novella)
Outpost
Restoration (Free short story on the MacMillan website)
Horde
Vanguard

Visit Ann Aguirre's website for more information

Review:
I've had Enclave on my to read pile for a very long time but to be honest I'd got a bit burned out on YA dystopians so I never got around to reading it. After meeting Ann Aguirre recently and talking to other fans who absolutely love the series (I'm looking at you Carien!) I decided it was finally time to give it a try though and I'm really glad I did. Enclave is set after some kind of disaster has ended life as we know it now, humans are scattered and forced to live in small underground communities. Life is hard, most children don't survive until adulthood so they're not even given names until they're old enough to fend for themselves, and even then life expectancy is much lower than what we're used to.

Deuce has just turned 15 and been given her name, she has been accepted as one of her enclave's hunters which means she will be sent out daily in search of food and other precious items to help their group survive. She has been paired with Fade, an older boy who is a great fighter but who isn't trusted by the rest of their clan because he wasn't born there. Fade arrived as a young child having navigated the underground tunnels completely alone, he claims he was born above ground but nobody believes him because they have never been able to leave the underground themselves. Deuce has always believed everything that the elders have told her and been happy to follow orders but with Fade's help she starts to discover that not everything within their community is quite what she thought it was and perhaps the elders don't always know the right thing to do.

Ann Aguirre did a brilliant job of describing the dark, dank underground world Deuce has been raised in. The atmosphere of the book is gloomy and oppressive and almost makes you feel suffocated while you're reading it. Deuce and Fade are both brilliant characters too, Deuce is fierce and a fighter but initially she's very naive and willingly follows orders without thinking things through. Fade has seen the world outside of the enclave so he's more willing to see the truth behind the lies and he's less scared of walking away and leaving the enclave behind him. I loved seeing the way Deuce's opinion of Fade changed as she started to really question what was happening around her and when Deuce is forced to leave she goes on an even steeper learning curve. She's always been capable of fighting but she has very few survival skills away from her home and she's never even seen the sky before so she's totally out of her comfort zone.

This world is brutal and I was glad that the author didn't try to sugarcoat things, there are gangs who will do whatever it takes to survive and who think nothing of murdering others to protect their territory. I didn't like the way those gangs considered girls just breeders who were there to be used and abused but sadly it wasn't hard to believe that people were capable of treating women like that. If there is one thing I really didn't like about the story it was the addition of Stalker as one of the main characters, he was the leader of one of these gangs and we heard first hand from one of his victims how he allowed his men to rape and abuse her (she'd given birth several times so this was something that had been going on for years!). I get that Fade and Deuce felt they needed another fighter on their side and after the way they were thrown together he was their only option but I didn't like the way Deuce began to trust him and that she started to try and justify his previous actions. I don't care what excuses you come up with you will never sell me on Stalker being a good guy and I felt bad for Tegan that she was forced to live in close confines with one of her abusers.

I was disappointed that Stalker seemed to come between Deuce and Fade's relationship for a while there and I know some people are worried that this was the start of a dreaded love triangle but I'm staying hopeful that it won't happen. I have faith that Ann Aguirre won't do that to us but if she does try to turn Stalker into a love interest then I'll be upfront now and say that I'll probably rage quit the series. I really hope it doesn't come to that though because I love both Deuce and Fade and really want to follow the rest of their journey!

Source: Purchased

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Review: The Eternity Cure - Julie Kagawa

In Allison Sekemoto's world, there is one rule left: Blood calls to blood

She has done the unthinkable: died so that she might continue to live. Cast out of Eden and separated from the boy she dared to love, Allie will follow the call of blood to save her creator, Kanin, from the psychotic vampire Sarren. But when the trail leads to Allie's birthplace in New Covington, what Allie finds there will change the world forever—and possibly end human and vampire existence.

There's a new plague on the rise, a strain of the Red Lung virus that wiped out most of humanity generations ago—and this strain is deadly to humans and vampires alike. The only hope for a cure lies in the secrets Kanin carries, if Allie can get to him in time.

Allison thought that immortality was forever. But now, with eternity itself hanging in the balance, the lines between human and monster will blur even further, and Allie must face another choice she could never have imagined having to make.

Blood of Eden series:
Dawn of Eden (Novella in the 'Til the World Ends anthology)
The Immortal Rules
The Eternity Cure
The Forever Song

Visit Julie Kagawa's website for more information.

Review:
I'm finding it really hard to write a review for The Eternity Cure, I absolutely loved the first book in this series but for some reason this one didn't quite live up to my expectations. I enjoyed how dark The Immortal Rules was and it was great seeing a nasty side to vampires again but the thing I loved most was Allie, She was just such a fantastic character, she had been changed into the thing she hated the most because it was the only way to survive but she remained the kind of person who put everyone else's needs above her own even though she considered herself a monster. Allie was strong, smart and capable and more than anything she was a survivor, she was willing to fight for what she believed in and she wouldn't back down no matter what danger she had to face.

Unfortunately I think Allie lost some of that kick-arse attitude in this book, it's hard to put my finger on exactly what felt so different about her here but she started to really irritate me. I think it was the way she constantly mooned around over Zeke that started it (even when they're fighting for their lives she's more interested in thinking about kissing him than worrying about how to kill her enemies!) but it was also the fact that she's become so indecisive, the way she's turned her back on her principles to take the easy route, the way she spent half the book complaining about being a vampire and how terrible it was and especially the way she was so judgemental of other vampires for doing things that she has done herself. I don't know how it all went so horribly wrong with her and I really, REALLY hope she pulls herself together in The Forever Song.

As far as the plot goes the beginning of the book felt very slow to me, it seemed to take a long time for things to get going but once the pace picked up I started enjoying the story much more. I actually found myself coming to like Jackal (something I never would have expected!) probably because he was so honest about who and what he was. He had no problem killing people who got in his way which is something that Allie was constantly judging him for but he never pretends to be a good guy and he is after all a vampire. Allie herself was happy to kill when she felt the situation required it but she constantly berated Jackal for not following her own self imposed set of rules and I felt that she was a little hypocritical in her attitude.

I didn't hate The Eternity Cure, in fact there were a lot of things I liked about it - the search for Kanin, the changes to the Red Lung virus and the battle with Sarren to name a few - but it didn't wow me as much as I'd hoped it would. I'm still going to be reading the final book though because I really do have to know how things are going to turn out for Allie and her friends.

Source: Received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

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Review: 'Til the World Ends - Julie Kagawa, Ann Aguirre & Karen Duvall

New York Times bestselling and critically acclaimed authors Julie Kagawa, Ann Aguirre and Karen Duvall imagine what it takes to survive in a world where everything you know—and love—is about to disappear…forever.

Dawn of Eden by Julie Kagawa

Before The Immortal Rules, there was Red Lung, a relentless virus determined to take out all in its path. For Kylie, the miracle of her survival is also her burden—as a doctor at one of the clinics for the infected, she is forced to witness endless suffering. What's worse, strange things are happening to the remains of the dead, and by the time she befriends Ben Archer, she's beginning to wonder if a global pandemic is the least of her problems….

Thistle & Thorne by Ann Aguirre

After a catastrophic spill turns the country into a vast chemical wasteland, those who could afford it retreated to fortresses, self-contained communities run by powerful corporations. But for Mari Thistle, life on the outside—in the Red Zone—is a constant struggle. To protect her family, Mari teams up with the mysterious Thorne Goodman. Together, they'll face an evil plot in both the underworld of the Red Zone and the society inside the fortresses that could destroy those on the outside…for good.

Sun Storm by Karen Duvall

Sarah Daggot has been chasing storms since she was a child. But after the biggest solar flares in history nearly destroy the planet, she becomes a Kinetic, endowed by her exposure to extreme radiation with the power to sense coming storms—in the cosmos and beyond. And she's not the only one. Sarah believes the Kinetics are destined to join forces and halt the final onslaught of the sun. She'll vow to keep trying to convince the one missing link in their chain of defense, the enigmatic Ian Matthews, up until the world ends.

For more information about any of these authors you can visit their websites by clicking the links below:
Julie Kagawa
Ann Aguirre
Karen Duvall

Review:

Dawn of Eden - Julie Kagawa

Blood of Eden series:
Dawn of Eden (Novella in the 'Til the World Ends anthology)
The Immortal Rules
The Eternity Cure
The Forever Song

Dawn of Eden is a prequel to Julie Kagawa's Blood of Eden series, it's set long before events in The Immortal Rules and gives readers more insight into how the red lung plague initially started and just how quickly it spread. To be honest this story was the reason I wanted to read the anthology and it was a really nice addition to the series. It introduces us to two new characters: Kylie is a young doctor struggling to look after the patients at her field hospital with limited medical supplies and dwindling members of staff; and Ben is a young man who just wants to make it back to the isolated farm he grew up on to check that his family are okay. If you've read The Immortal Rules you'll probably recognise Ben's farm but I'm not going to say more than that in case you're new to the series.

This was a great prequel that hooked me in very quickly. It's quite dark (all the books in this anthology are to a certain extent) but there is a thread of hope running through it too. Ben and Kylie are great characters and I enjoyed the romance that develops between them. We get a brief appearance from Kanin too and it was interesting to learn a bit more about his past.

Thistle & Thorne - Ann Aguirre

I think Thistle & Thorne actually ended up being my favourite story in the anthology, as far as I can tell it's stand alone but the way things were left at the end has me hoping that we'll see more of these characters in the future - I would definitely purchase a full length novel about these two if Ann Aguirre decided to write one! This is set in a dark world where much of the land is desolate, the wealthy live in protected, gated communities while the poor struggle to survive in what's left of the old cities and towns. Life is hard, gangs rule and unless you keep your head down you're very likely to come under attack.

Mari Thistle is an expert thief but she only steals what she needs to survive and to keep her younger siblings safe. She is the sole provider for her family and when she catches the attention of one of the gang bosses she suddenly finds herself in deep trouble. Thorne is a member of the gang who isn't happy with the way things are run, he has been waiting for a chance to make a power play against the current leader and Mari gives him the perfect excuse. The two of them must work together to find a way to beat a dangerous enemy if they are going to have any hope of surviving.

I loved these two characters, Mari is fiercely independent and is used to having no one but herself to rely on. She is incredibly protective of her siblings and will do whatever it takes to keep them safe even if it costs her everything. Thorne is harder to read in the beginning, I wasn't sure what his motives were but it quickly becomes clear he has a good reason to want to change things. It's not easy for these two to trust anyone but the more time they spend together the better they are at reading each other. I enjoyed the world building and would love to revisit these characters so I'll be keeping my fingers crossed we see them again in the future.

Sunstorm - Karen Duvall

I actually ended up feeling disappointed by Sunstorm which was annoying because the story had so much potential. The world building was really interesting and I liked the idea of solar flares causing so much damage to the earth. Due to the strength of the flares people were now only able to leave their homes in darkness, daylight was too dangerous and would cause horrific burns to anyone caught outside with no shelter. A few people were able to survive the sunfever though and they gained some pretty interesting abilities.

I think the story fell down for me because of the characters, I found it hard to connect to any of them and I never felt particularly invested in what happened to them. There were frequently large jumps in time which made the story harder to follow and so many things that happened just seemed too conveniently placed just to move the plot forward. I still think the anthology is worth reading if only for the first two stories but this one could have been so much better.

Source: Received from publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

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Review: The Queen of Zombie Hearts - Gena Showalter

Alice Bell thinks the worst is behind her. She's fought zombies and won. Now she's ready for a peaceful life with boyfriend Cole, the leader of the zombie slayers . . . until the dangerous agency controlling the undead launches an attack with devastating consequences.

Humans can be more dangerous than monsters . . . and the worst has only just begun.

They've started a war. Alice is determined to end it.

The White Rabbit Chronicles:
Alice in Zombieland
Alice Through the Zombie Glass
The Queen of Zombie Hearts
A Mad Zombie Party

Visit Gena Showalter's website for more information

Review:
If you thought the stakes were high in Alice Through the Zombie Glass that's nothing compared to what Ali and the slayers are facing in this instalment. Zombies may be evil but they're mindless creatures that act on instinct and it turns out that humans are far more dangerous. Anima doesn't want to see the slayers wipe out the zombies, not when they've worked so hard to find a way to control them, so they will do whatever it takes to wipe out Ali and her friends.

Right from the beginning of The Queen of Zombie Hearts the action is off the charts and the slayers are really up against it. Anima is always one step ahead and they're willing to act with lethal force to get rid of everyone Ali cares about. I was on the edge of my seat for much of the story, there are some great twists and a couple of shocks that I would never have spotted coming. I actually came pretty close to tears at one point thanks to one unexpected and utterly heart wrenching event. In fact, I'm still not quite sure I believe that I read that part right, I kept hoping it would all turn out to be some kind of horrific misunderstanding.

I was pleased to see that Ali and Cole had got their relationship back on track but then there is one moment where Cole reverted to his foolish behaviour and pushed Ali away again. It was in a particularly emotional situation so part of me could understand his reaction but I was annoyed that once again he turned his back on her when she needed him the most. I think I find it more frustrating because most of the time he's such a great guy and I'm generally really happy to root for them as a couple. I just wish he wouldn't have these stupid moments.

There are a lot of changes in this book, a lot of revelations about characters we know and love and we get to meet a whole new group of slayers who added an interesting dynamic to the story. The two groups don't really trust each other but Anima is causing so much trouble that they have to work together if they're going to have any chance of stopping them. The story has definitely ramped up on all levels and I can't wait to see how things play out in the next book. Ali has been through a lot already but I think she's still got quite a battle ahead of her before she can let her guard down.

Source: Received from publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Alice Through the Zombie Glass - Gena Showalter

Alice Bell has lost so much.

Family. Friends. A home.

She thought she had nothing else to give. She was wrong.

After a new zombie attack, strange things begin to happen to her. Mirrors come to life, and the whispers of the dead assault her ears. But the worst? A terrible darkness blooms inside her, urging her to do very wicked things. She’s never needed her team of zombie slayers more, but ultra bad-boy Cole Holland, the leader and her boyfriend, suddenly withdraws from her… from everyone. Now, with her best friend Kat at her side, Ali must kill the zombies, uncover Cole’s secret and learn to fight the darkness.

But the clock is ticking… and if she fails at a single task, they’re all doomed.

The White Rabbit Chronicles:
Alice in Zombieland
Alice Through the Zombie Glass
The Queen of Zombie Hearts
A Mad Zombie Party

Visit Gena Showalter's website for more information

Review:
Sometimes it can be a nerve racking experience to pick up the second book in a series, I'm sure we've all been in the situation where the sequel to a much loved first book ends up being a terrible disappointment and leaves us wondering whether it's even worth continuing with the rest of the series. Well I know I have anyway so I was slightly worried when it came to Alice Through the Looking Glass, what if it didn't live up to my expectations? Thankfully my fears were unfounded and within a couple of pages I was completely hooked. This story had everything I loved about the first book and then some and I loved every minute of it.

I don't want to talk too much about the plot but Alice Through the Looking Glass was darker and grittier than the first book, Ali is facing a far more dangerous enemy than she has before and it's one that she doesn't have much hope of defeating. The life that she has worked so hard to rebuild is starting to fall down around her ears and it's going to take every bit of courage and determination she has if she wants to hold things together. I love how strong Ali is, she has been through so much but she never gives up hope and she never stops trying to make things better for her friends and the people she cares about. I also love the great friendship between her, Kat and Reeve. The three girls are always there for each other and it's a refreshing change to have strong female friendships in a YA novel. It's actually quite sad that I feel the need to mention that fact but I'm so sick of reading stories where females treat each other as enemies even when they're supposed to be "best friends". I even found myself liking Mackenzie and Trina in this story and that's definitely not something I saw coming.

I have been a huge fan of Cole since the beginning but I have to admit I was more than a little irritated by his attitude for the majority of this book. The visions he has always shared with Ali have dried up and now she's experiencing something similar with Gavin, a new hunter on the scene. Cole is jealous and upset which was understandable but he uses the visions as an excuse to treat Ali really badly and I was incredibly angry with him because of that. I liked the way Ali called him out on his behaviour and I'm glad he eventually apologised and started to try and make up for his bad behaviour but I think I would have liked to see Ali make him suffer a little more before she forgave him. To be honest, as much as I still like him I'm now a little wary of him and I really hope he proves himself in the next book. They do have such great chemistry that it would be a shame for their relationship to be ruined. I was worried at one point that Gena Showalter had introduced a love triangle to the story but I'm pretty pleased with the way things turned out in the end and I'm glad it wasn't dragged out for several books.

Although the romance may have been a little lacking in this instalment the plot was on top form and there was plenty of action to keep me turning the pages. There is also some fantastic character development and I loved catching up with the hunters and seeing how they're all getting on now. There were some lovely scenes between Ali and her grandmother and some very sweet moments with her little sister too. We also get to meet some great new characters and it looks like things are about to get really interesting in the next book. I'm definitely excited to continue reading the series and I'm glad I already have the next two books so I don't have to wait to find out what happens next.

Source: Received from publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Even White Trash Zombies Get the Blues - Diana Rowland

Angel Crawford is finally starting to get used to life as a brain-eating zombie, but her problems are far from over. Her felony record is coming back to haunt her, more zombie hunters are popping up, and she's beginning to wonder if her hunky cop-boyfriend is involved with the zombie mafia. Yeah, that's right-the zombie mafia.

Throw in a secret lab and a lot of conspiracy, and Angel's going to need all of her brainpower-and maybe a brain smoothie as well-in order to get through it without falling apart.

White Trash Zombie Series:
My Life as a White Trash Zombie
Even White Trash Zombies Get the Blues
White Trash Zombie Apocalypse
How the White Trash Zombie Got Her Groove Back
White Trash Zombie Gone Wild (2015)

Visit Diana Rowlands's website for more information

Review:
I absolutely loved the first book in this series - in fact, I enjoyed it a lot more than I expected to considering I don't tend to read zombie novels and I'm very squeamish! - so I had incredibly high hopes for Even White Trash Zombies Get the Blues. I fully expected this book to be just as awesome but unfortunately it ended up falling a little flat which was really disappointing.

One of the best things about My Life As A White Trash Zombie was the humour but somehow much of that seemed missing in the sequel. It's really hard to put my finger on exactly why I stopped finding Angel amusing but I think it was possibly the fact that she had completely turned her life around so quickly. I loved that she was working so hard to improve her life but it seemed like she had managed to get herself sorted out far too quickly and put her roots more or less completely behind her in a lot of ways. I also missed the blood, guts and brains from the first book (something I NEVER expected to find myself saying!), yes Angel still has to eat brains to survive but it was much more mundane here as she mixed it in with normal everyday food before eating it.

I think I was most disappointed by the direction things took between her and Marcus though. At the end of the previous couple they had just started to get to know each other properly and were beginning to date but here their relationship seemed to have jumped forward at the speed of light and they were practically living together. I could have dealt with that if it hadn't been for the way Marcus was so completely and utterly dismissive of Angel whenever she tried to ask his advice or tell him her suspicions about what was going on. It seemed completely out of character for him to act like that, especially considering the way he treated her in the first book. I'm not a fan of characters who keep secrets for no apparent reason and it puts other people in danger because they don't have all the information they need to stay safe and there was more than one occasion when I really wanted to reach into the book and slap some sense into Marcus.

The beginning of the book was a little on the slow side but things really picked up pace in the second half and in spite of the issues I had with Marcus I did find myself starting to enjoy the story much more. I may have been a little disappointed with this instalment but I loved the first book enough to give the series another chance. I just hope Diana Rowland manages to bring the magic back in White Trash Zombie Apocalypse.

Source: Purchased

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Review: My Life as a White Trash Zombie - Diana Rowland

Angel Crawford is a loser.

Living with her alcoholic deadbeat dad in the swamps of southern Louisiana, she's a high school dropout with a pill habit and a criminal record who's been fired from more crap jobs than she can count. Now on probation for a felony, it seems that Angel will never pull herself out of the downward spiral her life has taken.

That is, until the day she wakes up in the ER after overdosing on painkillers. Angel remembers being in an horrible car crash, but she doesn't have a mark on her. To add to the weirdness, she receives an anonymous letter telling her there's a job waiting for her at the parish morgue—and that it's an offer she doesn't dare refuse.

Before she knows it she's dealing with a huge crush on a certain hunky deputy and a brand new addiction: an overpowering craving for brains. Plus, her morgue is filling up with the victims of a serial killer who decapitates his prey—just when she's hungriest!

Angel's going to have to grow up fast if she wants to keep this job and stay in one piece. Because if she doesn't, she's dead meat.

Literally.

White Trash Zombie Series:
My Life as a White Trash Zombie
Even White Trash Zombies Get the Blues
White Trash Zombie Apocalypse
How the White Trash Zombie Got Her Groove Back
White Trash Zombie Gone Wild (2015)

Visit Diana Rowlands's website for more information

Review:
Angel Crawford is a high school drop out with a deadbeat boyfriend, no job and addiction to drugs and alcohol. Her life is going nowhere fast - until the day she actually dies. Angel remembers a car crash, she remembers fear and blood but not a lot else so she's confused when she wakes up in hospital without a scratch on her. The doctors think she took an overdose but she's sure that's not what happened. Things get weirder when she suddenly finds a job has been organised for her to work with the coroner, she didn't apply for it and she has no idea why she's been given a second chance. She isn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth though and she takes the chance to finally make something of herself and runs with it. It turns out that Angel is quite suited to working with dead bodies, if only she could rid herself of the pesky little desire to chow down on their brains. What's a girl to do when she realises she's turned into a zombie?

I really wasn't too sure what to expect from this story, zombie books don't usually make it onto my to read pile because I'm pretty squeamish & I'm not much of a horror reader these days, but that cover caught my eye and then a bunch of my friends decided to buddy read it so I thought I'd give it a go. I'm so glad I did because I had so much fun reading this story. It's pretty damn gory, in fact there were times when I was almost struggling to hold down my lunch while I was reading it (hey, I told you I'm squeamish!), but the story had sucked me in so completely that I couldn't put it down.

Angel is a loser with a capital L, she comes from a white trash family, her mother had mental health problems and her father is an abusive alcoholic who is more interested in how much money Angel can give him for beer than he is in her welfare. Life hasn't been kind to her and she's pretty much given up on ever finding something better for herself so it comes as a complete shock to her when someone decides to give her a break and arranges for a decent job for her. She's convinced it must be something to do with her parole and since she doesn't want to go to jail she decides she'll do whatever it takes not to mess up. I loved seeing her turn things around, underneath her brash exterior she's actually smart and capable and now that she's set her mind to it she is able to use her brain to her advantage. Life is still hard but she has so much she wants to live for and if that means doing something as gross as eating brains she's going to find a way to deal with it.

I loved Diana Rowland's unique take on zombies, I don't want to say too much about it so you'll have to read the book to find out more but they definitely aren't your typical mindless, murdering beasts who will rip you to pieces on sight. The story alternated between grossing me out and making me snort with laughter and I can't wait to carry on reading the series. It's so nice when a book surprises you, My Life as a White Trash Zombie took me way out of my comfort zone and I loved every minute of it.

Source: Purchased

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Review: Memoirs of a Neurotic Zombie - Jeff Norton

'My name is Adam Meltzer and the last thing I remember was being stung by a bee while swinging at a robot-shaped piñata on my twelfth birthday. I was dead before the candy hit the ground.'

Memoirs of a Neurotic Zombie is narrated by the hilarious Adam Meltzer - pre-teen, worrywart, and now zombie. Adam's family gets the fright of their lives when he turns up at their door desperate for a shower . . . three months after his funeral.

When most people think zombies, they think of eating people, and unintelligent monsters.

But Adam doesn’t like germs. Or dirt. Or things being disorganised. So waking up as a zombie was definitely not in his plans, and the idea of eating people is disgusting. Getting stung by a bee doesn’t normally lead to becoming a zombie, and it seems incredibly unfair that it’s happened to Adam.

Soon Adam's back at school trying to fit in and not draw extra attention to himself, but when he sees his neighbour Ernesto transform into a chupacubra, and the beautiful Corina (Adam's number one mega-crush) turns out to be a (vegan) vampire, undead life is never going to be the same again.

A hilarious adventure caper - if Ferris Bueller met Shaun of the Dead - all about friendship and being yourself . . . even if you're undead.

Visit Jeff Norton's website for more information

Review:
Now I have to start this review by saying I don't usually read middle grade fiction so this isn't the kind of book that usually ends up on my radar. However, I'm a huge fan of Jeff Norton's MetaWars series and I was lucky enough to hear him give a reading from Memoirs of a Neurotic Zombie at an event a few months back so I just had to give it a try. I'm so glad I did because it really was a fun book to read.

When Adam is killed by a bee sting on his 12th birthday you might think that was the end of the story but in fact it's only the beginning. He gives his family quite a shock when he turns up on his doorstep three months after his funeral - having just dug his way out of his grave. Adam isn't your typical zombie though, for a start he is more than a little OCD and there is nothing he hates more than dirt and germs. He doesn't even like touching other people so he's not very likely to start eating them.

Now Adam has come back from the dead he discovers that some of his friends aren't exactly what most people would consider normal either. First their is Ernesto a chupacubra who wishes he was a werewolf since they are so much cooler, then there is his neighbour Corina a vegan vampire who is constantly battling against her very traditional parents. Adam is determined to get to the bottom of his undeath and asks his friends to help him track down the zombee that killed him - after all, he doesn't want the same fate to befall anyone else.

Memoirs of a Neurotic Zombie is a brilliant book full of laugh out loud humour but also containing nice messages about family and friendship. It's a story about discovering who you are and realising that it's OK to be different. I loved the friendship that develops between Adam, Ernesto and Corina but I also loved seeing Adam come to terms with what happened to him and trying to build a new life for himself. I'm sure this book will appeal to all youngsters but even reluctant readers are bound to get a giggle out of it.

Source: Received from Faber & Faber in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Donners of the Dead - Karina Halle

A note about this book: Donners of the Dead is set in 1851 – couples were often thrust into marriage together with short courtships, racism was widespread and not overly frowned upon, and women had little to no rights. What wouldn't fly in today's day and age was unfortunately the norm back then - it is worth keeping that in mind when reading this book.

Jake McGraw was unlike anyone I’d ever known. He was brash, rude, unapologetic and arrogant; chauvinistic, close-minded, and terribly stubborn. He was built like a tree, tall with a hard chest and wide shoulders and hands that looked like they could wrestle a bear. He was a cigar-chomping, scruffy-faced, beast of a man. I was pretty sure I hated him. And I know he hated me. But among the flesh-eating monsters in these snow-capped mountains, he was the only thing keeping me alive.

The year is 1851 and pioneers in search of California gold are still afraid to travel on the same route as the tragic Donner party did years before. When the last wagon train to go into the Sierra Nevada mountains fails to arrive at their destination, Eve Smith, an 18-year old half-native girl with immense tracking skills is brought along with the search party, headed by an enigmatic former Texas Ranger, Jake McGraw.

What they find deep in the dangerous snow-covered terrain is a terrifying consequence of cannibalism, giving new meaning to the term “monster.” While the search party is slowly picked off, one by one, Eve must learn to trust Jake, who harbors more than a few secrets of his own, in order to survive and prevent the monstrosities from reaching civilization.

Visit Karina Halle's website for more information

Review:
I have to confess I don't read much horror these days so I was a bit nervous before I picked up Donners of the Dead in case I didn't like it. I'm a huge fan of Karina Halle's Artists trilogy though and I've even been enjoying her Experiment in Terror series so I figured if anyone could get me to enjoy a horror romance then it would be her. As it turns out I actually loved how scary it was! I think this was even more creepy than the EIT books (although I've only read the first 2 books so far and I have heard they get scarier as the series continues) and it's definitely more gory. Karina Halle is actually managing to get me to enjoy horror again so I have to give her extra kudos for that.

I think the thing that intrigued me most about this novel and that really made me want to read it was the setting. As a Brit there is a lot I don't know about American history but hearing that this is loosely based on the true story of the Donner Party had me itching to learn more, in fact I'm going to have to do a little research on that group now I've finished the book! I haven't read many stories set in this era so it was a refreshing change to read something so different. I actually think that's something Karina Halle is really good at, she always comes up with such unusual story ideas so you know going in you'll get something other than the norm when you pick up one of her books.

Eve is a young mixed race girl in an era where racism is highly prevalent and since the disappearance of her Native American father she has lived her mother's very white family. She is definitely seen as a second class citizen by her family members and is treated only slightly better than a slave by her uncle and aunt. When a group of men come through town looking for a tracker to help them on their expedition into the mountains Eve's uncle is more than happy to volunteer her for the job - especially when he finds out how much they will pay for her skills. Eve is reluctant to go but doesn't really have much of a choice in the matter and at least her close friend Avery will be going along with her and she'll have a local village girl as a chaperone. What was supposed to be a relatively simple expedition to find the missing Donner Party turns much more sinister when they find themselves being attacked but just who, or what, is coming after them?

I really liked Eve as a character and thought she came across as very realistic for her age and the era she was born in. She is a very innocent and naive young woman who has led a sheltered life and isn't used to being around a group of rough and ready men. It didn't surprise me too much that she developed an immediate fascination with Jake, the way he was described made him come across as ruggedly handsome and he certainly had physical appeal. Unfortunately he also acted like an ass, he comes across as incredibly racist and seems to take great pleasure in making nasty comments to Eve. Again I'd have to say his actions felt quite realistic considering the era and his background, I'm not trying to excuse his actions but I didn't feel they were out of character for a man of his experiences. What I didn't like was the way Eve was still drawn to him even when he was being so mean to her. I had a bit of an issue with how quickly they went from him constantly needling her to him suddenly flirting and attempting to kiss her. It had been obvious from very early on that she was drawn to him (even when I was struggling to see why!) but I hadn't felt that the attraction went both ways which kind of spoilt the romance for me, especially in the beginning.

Once Jake had a change of heart and started treating Eve nicer I actually really started to like him and he has some incredibly sweet lines that I'll happily admit made me swoon a bit. From the start of their flirting together the romance moves at a nice pace and I didn't feel it took away from the rest of the plot but it did seem to come a little out of nowhere in the beginning. I guess I wanted him to be a little more apologetic for the way he had treated her and to have seen him try to make amends for being so mean - I wanted Eve to expect more from him and for him to give it to her. I understand things have to move a little faster in a stand alone story though and I enjoyed their banter and flirting so much that I ended up forgiving him for his initial attitude.

Donners of the Dead was a really enjoyable story which I thought had the perfect mix of scary horror and sexy romance. Considering I'm not much of a horror fan I'm still surprised at how much I loved the creepy scenes even when they had me wanting to hide behind a cushion in fear! I loved the historical setting too and it's definitely left me in the mood to read more stories about American pioneers.

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review

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Quick Review: The Adventure of the Wollaston Ritual - Emma Jane Holloway

Should you dare to read it, “The Adventure of the Wollaston Ritual” will serve as a fine (and perhaps a little frightening) introduction to Evelina Cooper, the niece of none other than the great detective Sherlock Holmes. Her world is one of sorcery, automatons and mystery. The main course in this succulent fiction feast – A Study in Silk – will be served September 24. In the meantime, consider “The Adventure of the Wollaston Ritual” to be a scrumptious hors d’oeuvre.

The Baskerville Affair:
The Adventure of the Wollaston Ritual (Free Short Story)
A Study in Silks
The Strange and Alarming Courtship of Miss Imogen Roth (Free Short Story)
A Study in Darkness
The Steamspinner Mutiny (Free Short Story)
A Study in Ashes

Visit Emma Jane Holloway's website for more information

Review:
The Adventure of the Wollaston Ritual is a prequel to Emma Jane Holloway's new series that can be read online for FREE here.

This is a fab introduction to the series and considering it's only around 60 pages it does a really good job of introducing the main character. Evelina Cooper is the niece of Sherlock Holmes and had rather an unusual upbringing until her grandmother insisted on sending her to Wollaston boarding school so she could learn to be a proper lady. Now she is in her last year of school and about to graduate but before she leaves she needs to solve a mystery. Someone has been digging up graves in the local cemetery but the question is why and what are they doing with the bodies?

I don't want to say much more about the story because it would be far to easy to give spoilers but this is a fast paced and enjoyable read. I really liked Evelina, she is smart, resourceful and a good friend. She has a strong bond with Imogen and I think they're going to get themselves into all sorts of trouble! We are also introduced to a potential future love interest but although I'm curious we haven't seen enough of him for me to decide if I really like him or not.

I liked the steampunk setting and we are definitely given hints that Evelina has magical abilities which I'm looking forward to exploring further in the next book. I just hope the rest of the series remains as strong as the prequel, if it does then it's sure to become a new favourite.

Source: Free read on Emma Jane Holloway's website here.

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Review: Red Hill - Jamie McGuire

I know the world ended on a Friday. It was the last day I saw my children . . .

For Scarlet, raising two daughters alone means fighting for tomorrow is an everyday battle. Nathan, desperately clinging to a dead-end job and a loveless marriage, survives purely for his little girl, Zoe. Whilst Miranda's biggest problem is driving her sister home from college with their boyfriends, whilst keeping her new Mini Cooper scratch free.

When news comes of a deadly epidemic, panic seeps into homes all over the world and chaos ensues . . . Knowing that they can't outrun the danger, they all head for shelter and security at the same secluded ranch - Red Hill.

When a normal day spins out of control and the world comes crashing to an end, how far will they go to save their loved ones? Would you slow down to help a stranger if you were both running for your lives?

Set against the backdrop of a brilliantly realised apocalyptic world, love somehow finds a way to survive. But what happens when the one you'd die for becomes the one who could destroy you?

Visit Jamie McGuire's website for more information

Review:
The end of the world started off just like any other normal day, people were going to work and getting on with their lives as usual when the virus hit. It spread faster than anyone could ever have imagined and killed everyone who was infected, the victims refused to stay dead though and when they came back they were hungry, hungry for human flesh.

Red Hill is told from three different points of view; you have Scarlet the single mother who has been separated from her two daughters and will do whatever it takes to find them again; Nathan who is just trying to find somewhere safe for himself and his young daughter Zoe; and finally you have Miranda who was on her way to spend the weekend at her father's ranch with her sister Ashley and their boyfriends Bryce and Cooper. These three characters start out as strangers but when their paths cross they have to work together as a group to survive.

I have to say really enjoyed watching each of the character's journey to the ranch, seeing the way they reacted when the news of the virus first started spreading, watching them fight their way across the country looking for safety as they tried to figure out what was happening, seeing them face their worst nightmares as friends and family members succumbed to the virus and turned into enemies, all of that was really interesting and made me question my own ability to survive in the event of a zombie apocalypse - I'll confess I don't like my chances! The story makes you ask difficult questions, how far would you be prepared to go to survive? What would you do to protect your loved ones? Would you be brave enough to risk your life for a complete stranger?

I did find that once the group arrived at Red Hill the story slowed down though, once they'd settled into a routine and started getting to know each other I felt myself getting a little bored. The romances that start to develop seemed a little rushed and unbelievable but I did like how conflicted Scarlet felt about finding any kind of happiness when she still didn't know what had happened to her daughters. I thought that was quite an honest reaction and it made sense to me, what I struggled with was the fact that she was able to sit around hoping her daughters would find her. She does start to get a little more proactive towards the end but it was a little too late in some ways and I didn't like the way she was willing to put the others at risk for her own goals. Really I just felt that life became a bit too easy for them all when they got to the ranch, I know it was mentioned that the owner had prepared for a potential disaster but it was hard to believe that it was quite so well stocked with food and other supplies for so many people. It just didn't make sense that they weren't having to go hunting for supplies more regularly.

The story is well written, I was engaged with the characters and cared about what happened to them but it did feel like this was a story I've read before. I don't really read many zombie apocalypse stories so this surprised me and I have a feeling that anyone who is a huge fan of this genre would be even more disappointed. It was a shame we're not given much of an explanation for what caused the virus and how it spread so quickly and I was confused by the military response (or lack of it) until very near the end of the book. The ending felt a bit rushed and failed to answer many of my questions which did make me wonder if we'll get a sequel in the future. I'm not sure if there is enough story left to tell for a whole other book though. It's hard to rate this book, in a lot of ways I really enjoyed it, especially the action throughout the first half of the book, but I did feel let down by the ending and that coloured my view of the story as a whole.

Source: Received from Simon & Schuster in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Mortality - Kellie Sheridan

After surviving a deadly plague outbreak, sixteen-year-old Savannah thought she had lived through the very worst of human history. There was no way to know that the miracle vaccine would put everyone at risk for a fate worse than un-death.

Now, two very different kinds of infected walk the Earth, intent on nothing but feeding and destroying what little remains of civilization. When the inoculated are bitten, infection means watching on in silent horror as self-control disappears and the idea of feasting on loved ones becomes increasingly hard to ignore.

Starving and forced to live inside of the abandoned high school, all Savannah wants is the chance to fight back. When a strange boy arrives with a plan to set everything right, she gets her chance. Meeting Cole changes everything. Mere survival will never be enough.

The Hitchhiker Strain:
End Dayz (Prequel Novella)
Mortality
Future titles & release dates to be confirmed

Visit Kellie Sheridan's website for more information

Review:
After a man made virus created an epidemic of undead, flesh eating monsters the whole world was thrown into chaos. Things just got even worse when a vaccine supposed to stop the spread of the infection created a new breed of zombies, ones who are faster, stronger and much more intelligent but still just as desperate for a taste of human flesh. Survivors have banded together but supplies are hard to come by and the risk of attack is constant. The new world isn't an easy one and only the smartest will survive.

Mortality is told from the perspective of two teenage girls Savannah and Zarah. Savannah's story begins six months after the vaccine created the new kind of zombies. The survivors from her town are all living together inside the old school building with the adults trying to clear the surrounding area of monsters while they keep the teenagers and children safely inside. Savannah and her friends have spent the last 6 months training and are desperate for a chance to prove themselves but when they are finally given the opportunity things go horribly wrong. Separated from the rest of their group the four friends must try to make it to the safe house to see if they can find the others. Zarah's story actually starts on the night of the second epidemic and we follow her and her boyfriend Liam as they try to find somewhere safe where they can be together.

Out of the two girls I have to admit I liked Savannah more, she was stronger than Zarah and more willing to stand up for herself and her friends. Savannah is the kind of girl who doesn't sit back and wait for others to rescue her, she'd rather be in the thick of the action trying to keep her friends safe. She does make some questionable decisions but you can tell that everything she does she does because she thinks it is the best option for those she cares about. Although I felt Zarah was a weaker character I still enjoyed her story, it was interesting to see things from such a different perspective and I liked the way the two girl's stories gradually start to merge together. I have to admit that I didn't predict the way things ended!

When Savannah and the others are trying to catch up with the rest of their group they come across another survivor Cole. Cole is searching for his uncle who he believes he may be with the survivors from Savannah's town and it is desperately important that Cole finds him. I have to confess I had mixed feelings about Cole, at times I thought he was really sweet but I never really felt like I connected to him. Since I knew he was keeping secrets I found it really difficult to decide if he was trustworthy or not and I found myself really annoyed with the way he put Savannah at risk. There was one point where I couldn't believe that Savannah was stupid enough to go along with his plans and I almost felt that if she was dumb enough to do as he said then she deserved whatever the consequences might be. I did find it interesting to see how different people coped in the situation though. You had very different groups all fighting for the same resources and I think that is only going to get more complex as the series continues. What confused me was the large militia group - they were so organised in many ways but then in others they took stupid risks. They came across as more of a mob at times but they were supposed to be what remained of the government & army which was kind of worrying. It's hard for me to say much more than that without giving spoilers so I'll leave it at that.

Mortality is an interesting start to Kellie Sheridan's Hitchhiker Strain series, there were a few problems that stopped me loving the book as much as I could have but it was still an enjoyable read and she has created an interesting world. I liked the fact she has created 2 different types of zombies and the way both came to exist was well thought out and felt realistic (as much as any zombie story can be believable that is!).  I will be keeping an eye out for future books in the series because I'd like to know how Savannah and Cole's story plays out.

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review

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