There are very few books that I will drop everything to read. This is one of those bookThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
There are very few books that I will drop everything to read. This is one of those books. I downloaded this book as soon as it became available and spent as much time reading it as possible. I seem to be reading slower these days so I downloaded the audiobook when it was released a week later even though I had reached the 80% mark in the book simply because I couldn’t wait to see how it ended. I was a fantastic reading experience from beginning to end.
The characters in this series come alive on the page. I think that Sarah Lyons Fleming does an amazing job of creating characters that you can’t help but love, making it very easy to become invested in the story’s outcome. This series is told from 4 unique points of view. Rose loves to take care of everyone, especially her father and 2 young adult children. She tends to worry simply because she cares so much. Tom is Rose’s boyfriend and Clara’s father. He is incredibly competent and tends to be a steady presence in the story. Clara is Tom’s daughter and the girlfriend of Rose’s oldest child. We get to see a bit more about how the young adults in the story deal with a world turned upside down. Craig is Rose’s childhood friend. He has stepped up as a leader in the group and is someone that Rose and everyone else can count on. These four characters tell the story but it is easy to fall in love with the whole group and I worried about them with each challenge they faced.
The group seems to be in a bit of a better start than they were in the past. They have a solid group working together, plenty of supplies, and a location that meets their needs. Unfortunately, this is a world full of danger. They must constantly work to keep their food supply up and stay on guard against the zombies that now roam the world. On top of that, they know that the threat of wildfire is a real one. And this is a world without a team of firefighters ready to act. This story took my heart and broke it at times. I have to wonder just how much these characters can face.
I listened to a portion of this book and thought the narrators did a great job with the story. Each point of view was voiced by a different narrator which made it very easy for the listener to know when the perspective changed. I thought that their voices were very pleasant and complimented each other’s nicely. They added just the right amount of emotion to their reading which added to my enjoyment of the story. I plan to tackle the full audiobook when I pick this book up again for an eventual re-read.
I would highly recommend this series to others. This is the fourth book in a series that really should be read in order so I wouldn’t start with this book. The first book World Departed would be a much better place to start. I can’t wait to read the next (and possibly final) book in this much-loved series....more
This was absolutely amazing! I was so excited to get my hands on this book. As soon as This review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
This was absolutely amazing! I was so excited to get my hands on this book. As soon as I finished the previous book in the series over a year and a half ago, I was eager to find out what would happen next to this group of characters that I have grown to care about. I have to admit that I periodically checked the author’s website to see if a release date had been published. As soon as I knew this book was finally available, I couldn’t get it on my device fast enough and ignored my other responsibilities so that I could spend more time reading. My expectations were incredibly high but I am proud to report that they were all met.
I don’t know how Sarah Lyons Fleming is able to consistently write characters that come alive on the page and feel like friends but she continues to excel at exactly that. This installment was lower on zombies but the situation these characters find themselves in was possibly even more desperate. I found myself relating to this group of people doing their best to survive in a world that throws obstacles at them at every turn. I was cringing every time one of them was in danger and delighting in their accomplishments.
This story is told from four different points of view. Rose, Tom, Clara, and Craig all have an interesting perspective on what this group is facing. After the events in the previous book, they fled as part of a group of 30 individuals to safety. Their biggest challenge is feeding this group for an extended amount of time. I felt their desperation and wondered just how far I would go if I were placed in their position. The descriptions of their hunger were incredibly vivid and I wondered if all the members of the group would survive.
I would highly recommend this series to others. This is the third book in the Cascadia series which really should be read in order. I am already counting down the days until I can get the 4th book in my hands (unfortunately I have a bit of a wait). This one that I know I will be reading again in the not-too-distant future....more
I enjoyed this one! I am so glad that I finally tackled this series. It was a lighter lThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I enjoyed this one! I am so glad that I finally tackled this series. It was a lighter listen but had enough zombie action to keep my interest at all times. I really appreciated the humor that was worked into the story. I would recommend reading the series in order if at all possible since details from the first two books are frequently referred to in this installment.
In this installment, David and Sarah are trying to make it to the wall that has divided the United States in half. They have some pretty close calls with other survivors and pick up a couple of individuals to help them on their mission along the way. David is having a few side effects from his close call in the previous book that made things extremely interesting.
I listened to the audiobook and thought that Cassandra Campbell did a great job with the story. I really think that she has been the perfect narrator for this series. She really brought the characters to life and helped to make the story even more exciting. I would definitely pick up more books in the series if given the chance.
This was fun! I love zombie books and enjoyed the first book in this series so I decideThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
This was fun! I love zombie books and enjoyed the first book in this series so I decided to jump right into the second book. This book picks up shortly after the events of the first book so I would encourage others to read this series in order if at all possible. In this installment, David and Sarah have decided to go into business together, working to exterminate zombies for others.
There really weren’t any big surprises in the story but I had fun watching Sarah and David navigate a world full of zombies. Not to mention the evil scientist and the kid they end up partnered with. I thought that the humor in the story was well done and loved seeing just how much David and Sarah care about each other. There were a few surprises before that really had me worrying if Sarah and David were going to make it.
I listened to the audiobook and thought that Cassandra Campbell did a fantastic job with this story. I love the voices she uses for the characters and thought that she made the story feel even more exciting. She does a great job of delivering the humor of the story as well. I hope to start reading the next book in the series very soon.
This was fun! I thought that I had read books featuring just about every supernatural bThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
This was fun! I thought that I had read books featuring just about every supernatural being out there but once I saw this book I realized that I had yet to pick up a book with main characters that were ghouls. I have read a book or two where ghouls are worked into this story but this was my first experience reading one where the ghoul took center stage and I must say that it was a very entertaining read. I am so glad that I took a chance and decided to give this book a try.
Zoey, Celeste, Jasmine, and Valeria became ghouls after the Hollowing swept the world. They can live a very normal life eating synthetic flesh and are excited to attend the first music festival since the Hollowing. Things don’t go according to plan and Val ends up eating a boy. The group soon learns that there is a more sinister plan in the works. I especially enjoyed the flashback scenes that gave the reader insight into how the change played out for each of the key characters.
I thought that the mystery in this story was very well done and I loved that the story kept me guessing until the end. I thought that the fact that the main characters were ghouls added a very interesting and original element to the story. I really liked all of the characters and appreciated the LGBTQ+ representation. The fact that there is a bit of romance worked into the story is just icing on the cake.
I would not hesitate to recommend this book to others. I found this book to be incredibly entertaining and almost impossible to put down once I started reading. I hope to read more of this author’s work in the future.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Sourcebooks Fire....more
I. Loved. This. Book. Loved it! There are very few authors that I will drop everything This review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I. Loved. This. Book. Loved it! There are very few authors that I will drop everything that I am doing just to start reading their newest book. Sarah Lyons Fleming is at the top of that list. I have looked for this book several times this year just hoping that it might have become available. So yes, I have eagerly been anticipating the release of this book and I am happy to say that it did not disappoint. It didn’t take long before I was completely hooked by this story. I even considered calling in sick to work just so I could keep reading. I didn’t because I am a responsible adult but I did think about it. I really enjoyed the entire reading experience.
Sarah Lyons Fleming writes the best characters. The absolute best. I have talked to some people who aren’t sure if they should try her books because they “don’t read zombie books”. These books are character-driven stories that just happen to be set in the zombie apocalypse. Yes, there are zombies and some pretty intense scenes but there are also long stretches of the book without any zombie action. I do love the zombies but I am here for the characters.
This book is told from four different points of view: Rose, Craig, Tom, and Clara. The book picks up shortly after the events of the first book and I do feel that this is a series that really does need to be read in order. The characters, along with their friends, are getting by inside the safe zone. The man in charge is not a nice guy but they are dealing with it. I loved the descriptions of their living conditions and I could imagine the challenges of living in a large group setting. Relationships within the group are changing. Some are stressed while others are growing stronger. Danger is just outside the gates and they must face it anytime they need to leave to help get supplies or any other essential activity.
This book had plenty of excitement. There were a few times that I was holding my breath just hoping things would work out for the group. I also really enjoyed seeing how some of the relationships between the characters changed and there were a couple of romances that kept things very interesting. I could totally imagine hanging out with this group and just having a good time but without the zombie apocalypse. Their interactions and the way that they depend on each other just felt completely authentic.
I highly recommend this series. Readers should start at the beginning of the series with World Departed but this is a series that should not be missed. This is a book that I am sure that I will be reading again in the not too distant future as I patiently wait for the next installment in the series.
I really enjoyed this story! If you follow my reviews, you have probably noticed that IThis review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
I really enjoyed this story! If you follow my reviews, you have probably noticed that I am a rather eclectic reader. There just aren't a lot of genres that I won't read but there are a few that I tend to enjoy more than others and I cannot resist a good end of the world story. Throw in some zombies and I am even happier. I was really excited to read this novella-length piece and I ended up having a fantastic time with it.
Ben has spent the past year in his house in a wealthy neighborhood. Ben and his wife were prepared for an apocalypse with a nice cache of supplies and an extensive solar power set up. Ben has been alone this whole time as his wife, Sarah, was needed to help with the outbreak. Ben decides that he needs to leave his isolated safety and leave a message for his wife whom he thinks is on her way back home.
I really liked the setup of this story. Instead of a desperate person with no supplies, Ben is a well-prepared man whose biggest problem during the apocalypse has been a case of loneliness. When he heads out, he does not know what he is going to find. He has encountered zombies in his neighborhood but in a limited number. Ben was a great character and I thought that he was more than capable. There were a couple of additional characters introduced and I found them to be very likable as well.
Jarret Lemaster did a wonderful job with this story. I don't believe that I have had the opportunity to listen to this narrator before but I really liked what he did with this story. I thought that he was able to bring Ben to life quite well and that he added a lot of excitement to the story. He had a very pleasant voice and I believe that his narration added to my enjoyment of the story.
I would recommend this book to others. This was a great start to a very promising series. I thought that this book had great characters with enough action (and zombies) to keep things very interesting. I cannot wait to see what happens to this group of characters in the next installment.
I received a review copy of this audiobook from the author.
Initial Thoughts I enjoyed this story. I liked that it was short enough to listen to in a single day but it didn't skip over any details. I liked the characters that we met in the story and thought that Ben's point of view was somewhat unique. The narration of the audiobook was very well done and added to my overall enjoyment of the story. I am looking forward to checking out the next installment sometime soon....more
I couldn’t wait to read this book! I was blown away by Kira Jane Buxton’s debut novel, This review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I couldn’t wait to read this book! I was blown away by Kira Jane Buxton’s debut novel, Hollow Kingdom, so it was no surprise that I would want to read the newest book in the series just as soon as it became available to me. I am thrilled that this book was able to live up to my incredibly high expectations. This book had all of the humor, excitement, and relatable moments that I had hoped to find. I had a great time catching up with S.T. and the rest of the gang.
This story picks up some years after the events of the first book of the series, and I do recommend reading this series in order. S.T. is in Alaska with his bird friends focused on raising the last MoFo, Dee. It is not an easy job but S.T. is determined to keep his nestling safe at any cost. When things go wrong in Alaska, they must make their way to Seattle where they will encounter some familiar faces and more danger than you could imagine.
One of the things that I loved about Hollow Kingdom was the originality of the story. I wasn’t sure that there could be many more surprises in this new installment but I was pleasantly surprised. I could not have guessed the changes that have taken place in the world. It was really a touching story at times and I thought that the love that S.T. felt for Dee and the other animals really shone on the pages. This was a really heartfelt story that made me worry about the characters one moment and laughing the next.
I would highly recommend this book to others. This is an incredibly unique and original tale featuring a surprisingly relatable crow. I will definitely be reading more of this talented author’s work in the future.
I received a review copy of this book from Grand Central Publishing....more
I had a fantastic time with this book! I spent a lot of time last year working through This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Booka.
I had a fantastic time with this book! I spent a lot of time last year working through this series but for some reason, I never got around to reading this book. Audiobooks were only available for the first three books when I was reading the series last year but the publisher has recently released audiobooks for the rest of the series. I was very excited to see that the Hoopla app that I use through my local library had the entire series available in audio and decided to finally dive into Jim's story.
This book tells Jim and Amira's story. In the previous book in this series, Forgotten World, Jim puts himself in an impossible situation in order to save his friends. I couldn't wait to see what really happened to Jim when he ran from the farmhouse. I knew that this would be an exciting story and it was but I did not expect to be so taken with Amira and the unique challenges that she faces. I really enjoyed watching Jim and Amira learn how to work with each other and become a team.
Jim and Amira were both great characters. I have had the chance to get to know Jim a bit over the course of the series but it was great getting the chance to see things from his point of view. Amira must take extra steps in order to protect herself and I really enjoyed seeing how she was able to navigate the world. I thought that the pair had great chemistry with each other and it was fun to watch them open up to one another.
Hilary Huber and Patrick Lawlor did a fantastic job with this story. I really enjoy books that use two narrators to represent the two points of view in the book. I thought that both of the narrators were able to bring the characters to life and I thought that they added a lot of excitement to the story. I feel like their narration added to my enjoyment of the book.
I would recommend this book to others. This book is part of a series but it could work as a stand-alone since it happens away from the rest of the group. I am so glad that I finally worked this one into my schedule. I definitely plan to read more from Kate L. Mary very soon.
Initial Thoughts I was really excited to find this audiobook in the Hoopla app that I am able to use with my local library. I have been working my way through Kate L. Mary's books and for some reason, I had skipped this book. Jim's story was just as good as I had hoped it would. Amira was a great character and I enjoyed seeing how she navigated the world with her disability. The narration was very well done.
So I wasn't a huge fan of this one but I did finish it. It is hard to really buy into a romance where one party has purchased the other and keeps themSo I wasn't a huge fan of this one but I did finish it. It is hard to really buy into a romance where one party has purchased the other and keeps them chained up. I was really hoping for some zombie action but those scenes were really few and far between. The narration was really well done which is probably why I actually stayed with the book until the end.
I had a great time with this audiobook! I am a fan of Kate L. Mary's work so I was eageThis review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
I had a great time with this audiobook! I am a fan of Kate L. Mary's work so I was eager to give this collection of stories a try. As a reader of her work, it was nice to see a few familiar characters and other characters that have been talked about but I also think that this would be a great place to start. I found this to be a very quick and enjoyable listen.
This collection has a nice variety of stories. Some stories are longer while others are pretty quick but they all grabbed my attention and held it throughout the story. Usually, with short story collections, I have found that one or two stories will be more of a miss for me but in this collection, I found that I really enjoyed each of the stories. I liked the fact that these stories gave some insight into a few familiar characters without spoiling any of the full books in the series.
This is the first time that I have listened to Kathleen Miranti's narration and I thought that she did a great job with this collection of stories. There were a few stories that were pretty emotional and I think that she did a great job of conveying that emotion through her reading. I think that she had a very pleasant voice that was easy to listen to for hours at a time.
I would recommend this book to others. I really enjoyed getting a chance to experience a wide range of experiences these characters were facing in the zombie apocalypse.
I received a review copy of this audiobook from the author....more
I had a great time listening to this audiobook. I listened to the first book in this seThis review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
I had a great time listening to this audiobook. I listened to the first book in this series shortly after its release last year and enjoyed it so that I went on to read many of more of the author's works during the past year. It goes without saying that I was excited to start listening to this book and it did not disappoint. This is the second book in the Oklahoma Wastelands series, which is a series that should be read in order if at all possible. I really enjoyed slipping back into this world for a bit to check in on Regan and Kellan.
Please note there may be spoilers in this review for the first book in the series.
This book picks up shortly after the events of the first book. Regan and Kellan are determined to rescue Harper from Andrew. In a world filled with zombies and humans out to take advantage of others, things are never easy. Regan, Kellan, and their group are all really good people and are determined to protect everyone in their group. There were a lot of really exciting scenes in this book and quite a few twists that kept me guessing throughout the story.
I really like Regan and Kellan. They make a great pair and just seem to fit each other perfectly. They both feel some responsibility to others in their group and are willing to put themselves in danger to protect others. They are both very supportive of each other and Kellan doesn't hold Regan back even though he might want to at times. It was great to see their relationship grow over the course of this story. I think that they have wonderful chemistry with each other and their history together makes everything even more believable. It was really easy to cheer them on.
Heather Firth did a fantastic job with the narration of this book. I liked all of the character voices that she used and I thought that all of the dialogue in this story felt very natural. I think that she was able to add a lot of excitement and emotion into the story. She read the story with a very pleasant voice and I had no problems listening for hours at a time.
I would recommend this series to others. I really liked the fact that this story was exciting from beginning to end. I cared about the characters and wanted to see everything work out for them. I can't wait to read more of this exciting series and more of Kate L. Mary's work!
I received a review copy of this audiobook from the author.
Initial Thoughts I enjoyed this audiobook. I have devoured so many of Kate L. Mary's books over the last year and was really excited to get back to this series. This book picks up shortly after the events of the first book in the Oklahoma Wasteland series. Kellan and Regan are great characters and I think that they make a very strong couple. This book was really exciting and there were quite a few surprises to keep me guessing. Heather Firth did a fantastic job with the narration....more
I loved this book! There are a handful of authors that I will drop everything when she This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
I loved this book! There are a handful of authors that I will drop everything when she releases a new book so that I can immediately start reading it. Sarah Lyons Fleming has made her way onto that list of authors. I knew that a book would be coming out soon but I wasn't exactly sure when it would be. Once I saw that this book was available, I couldn't download it fast enough. Let's just say that my expectations were high. This book was even better than I could have hoped it would be. I feel like I have been on a journey with these characters and I loved every moment of it.
It is no secret that I love a well-told zombie story. I think that this is a book that could appeal to readers who wouldn't consider themselves to be fans of zombie apocalyptic fiction. That's because this book is all about the characters. Sarah Lyons Fleming can write characters that work their way into your heart and leave you feeling like they are family. This is really a character-driven story. Sure, those characters get the chance to stab zombies in the eye from time to time but the focus is really on how this group of people can band together to survive the worst-case scenario. This book is set in the same world as the Until the End of the World and City Series but it is set on the west coast and features a brand new cast of characters. This is a great place for readers new to Sarah Lyons Fleming's work to jump in since it is the start of a brand new series.
I liked the fact that this book was told from multiple points of view. Rose is the mother of two young adult children who home from college when tragedy struck. She was set to host an anniversary party so her dad and best friend are also around, despite the fact her husband is missing. Clara is a college student who happens to be best friends with Rose's daughter, Holly. She came home from school when her dad asked her to because he was worried about the virus and her whole world has fallen apart. Tom is Rose's difficult neighbor and Clara's father. He has been through a lot and has a really hard time dealing with everything happening but he will do whatever it takes to keep Clara safe. Craig is one of Rose's best friends but he didn't make it to the party and is stuck miles away. He will have to find the strength he doesn't know he has to make to Oregon.
I loved seeing the group adjust to their changing situation. I loved seeing them work together to put ideas into place and do what was needed to help the group. These people felt so real and I really enjoyed seeing how compassionate they were to others. I cheered for them when things were going well and feared for them when situations were less than ideal. I was able to relate to these characters and found myself wondering if I would have handled certain situations in the same way they did.
I would highly recommend this book to others. This was a book that was almost impossible to put down even though I had to since life will not wait for me to read a book that is almost 800 pages long. This is one of those books that I will be reading again and already have plans to add the audiobook to my personal library once it is available. I cannot wait to read more of this author's work!
I thought that this was a wonderful wrap up to the series. I devoured Kate L. Mary's BrThis review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
I thought that this was a wonderful wrap up to the series. I devoured Kate L. Mary's Broken World series earlier this year and after learning that this series featured the same group of characters, I couldn't wait to get started with it. It has been great to see these characters grow and survive and I enjoyed getting to meet new characters in this series. This book really did pull everything together very well and I had a great time with it.
This is the book where things really start to happen. Angus is alive and his friends know it. They also know how much danger Axl and Donaghy are in. At this point, not only do they want to rescue their friends and loved ones but they are also looking for some revenge. If anyone deserves revenge, I think Angus does. There are several points of view in this book and it worked well since the characters were not always together or looking at the situation in the same way.
This story was really exciting. There was plenty of action and I found myself worrying about the characters. There were quite a few surprises as well. I loved getting the chance to watch this group of characters working to make the world a better place even if it cost them. I was happy that this book left me with some hope for the future and I feel really satisfied with how things were wrapped up. My only complaint with the story would be that the last part of the book felt a little drawn out but nothing that lessened my overall enjoyment.
I thought that Heather Firth did a great job with the narration. There are quite a few characters in this series and a wide range of emotions that they experience. I thought that she did a great job of giving each character their voice and bringing them to life. The narrator reads the story at a really nice pace and I feel that her performance added to my overall enjoyment of the story.
I would recommend this series to others. I do feel that this is a series that is best read in order. I love the world that Kate L. Mary has created and the characters are amazing. I will definitely be reading more from this very talented author.
I received a review copy of this audiobook from the author.
Initial Thoughts It is hard to believe that my journey with these characters is coming to an end. This is a series that really should be read in order and I think that it really works best after reading the Broken World series. This book was exciting and sometimes unexpected. There were some scenes of heartbreak and others of joy. I did think that the last part of the book was a little drawn out but nothing major. The narrator did a fine job with this story once again....more
I enjoyed this book in the Twisted series. This book fills in all the gaps between the This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
I enjoyed this book in the Twisted series. This book fills in all the gaps between the Broken World series and the events in the first book in this series. This is a series that would best be read in order and I do believe that this series works best when read after the Broken World series. I have been kind of obsessed with this group of characters this year so I was delighted to have all of my questions about what their lives have been like and what really happened answered in this book.
Angus James came to Atlanta to save the world. His immunity has made him a precious commodity. Even though he came willingly and wanted to help, the CDC told his family that he had died and used him for one experiment after another. 20 years of experiments. We also get a chance to check in with Axl, Vivian, Jim, Al, Lila, Josh, and Parv. A lot has happened in 20 years and not all of it was good.
This book covers a lot of time. A lot of the story happens before the events of Twisted World and I did have a moment or two when I wondered why the author chose to wait until the second book to share this information but I don't think it would have worked well any other way. I hated hearing some of the things that happened to these characters. They have been through so much and it just seems wrong that they had to deal with the kind of evil shown in this story.
I thought that Heather Firth did a great job with the narration. This book is told from a lot of different perspectives and there a lot of characters that play important roles. I thought that she did a great job keeping all of the voices consistent and I never had any difficulty recognizing the speaker. I also think that she does a great job of adding emotion to her reading. I had no problems listening to her narration for hours at a time.
I would recommend this series to others. I feel like I have been on quite the journey with these characters and was very happy to find out what happened to them over the years even though a lot of it was heartbreaking. I look forward to reading more of Kate L. Mary's work.
I received a review copy of this audiobook from the author.
Initial Thoughts I enjoyed this installment in the Twisted series. This book fills in the gap between the Broken World series and the first book in this series. It was really interesting to see what had happened to certain members of the group in the years since they entered their community controlled by the CDC. This book kind of takes everything you thought you knew about the way the community is run and turns it on its side. I thought that the narrator did a great job with this story and I am eager to get started on the next book in this series....more
This was a great chance to see things from a completely different perspective. This is This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
This was a great chance to see things from a completely different perspective. This is a novella-length story that really does need to be read after Twisted World since the events in this story take place at the same time. In this story, we see things from Jackson's point of view. I was pretty sure that I didn't like Jackson before I started this book but now I am absolutely certain that this is not a nice guy. It was really kind of fun to see just exactly how this guy mind really works. I had a good time with this story.
Jackson Star was born at the start of the zombie apocalypse and he is roughly the same age as Megan. Jackson's father is the man in charge of the settlement that they live in. He doesn't know what it is like to not be in power. They live in a big house while others live in shacks. Jackson, along with his father, has a plan and that plan involves Megan James.
Jackson was even worse than I thought he would be and I thought he was pretty bad. He really does have an evil mind and I was at times amazed by just how far he would be willing to go. I thought he was selfish and uncaring but learned that he actually enjoys seeing others in pain. He likes to make others suffer and he is completely unable to empathize on any level.
This story was very eye-opening. It was really interesting to see things happening that I couldn't even imagine. I liked that certain parts of this story mirrored Twisted World but though a warped lens. I thought I knew what happened but I didn't know everything. I love the fact that even though I knew a lot of the events that would happen in this story, everything still felt very fresh because the perspective was so different.
I thought that Heather Firth did a great job with this story. I like that she speaks very clearly and I think she does a great job with the character voices. I thought that she had a very pleasant voice and I had no trouble listening to this story for hours at a time.
I would recommend this series to others. I love the world that Kate L. Mary has created and the characters almost feel like family. I cannot wait to read more in this series!
I received a review copy of this audiobook from the author.
Initial Thoughts This was an interesting point of view. This novella takes place at the same time as the first book in the series, Twisted World. Everything is presented from Jackson Star's point of view and as much as I thought I didn't like him before, this novella left no doubts. Jackson Star is not a nice guy. The story did answer a few questions and let me see another side of things to really give a clear picture of what is going on in this world. I thought that the narration was well done as well. ...more
I really liked this book. I am always on the lookout for something different, somethingThis review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
I really liked this book. I am always on the lookout for something different, something original, something I haven't read one hundred times before. I have also been reading a lot of zombie books lately so I kind of think that this book was written for me. This was a different kind of zombie story and one that I won't forget any time soon. I am so glad that I took a chance and decided to give Hollow Kingdom a try.
This story is told almost entirely from S.T.'s point of view. There are a few other characters that get a quick point of view, but this is really S.T.'s story. S.T. is a bird. A pet crow to be precise. He has been dependant on his human, Big Jim, and likes his life. He knows that it is time to venture out on his own when Big Jim loses an eye and goes a little crazy. S.T. and Dennis, Big Jim's hound, leave the house and begin an adventure more intense than they could have ever imagined.
I loved S.T. from the start of this story. I thought that the author did a fabulous job of bringing this bird to life. I felt his uncertainty, his loyalty, and his desire to make things as right in the world as he could. S.T. is a smart little bird with a very large heart. He takes his quest seriously and puts himself at risk in order to save the lives of others. S.T. isn't the only great character in this book. We get to know Dennis through S.T.'s eyes and I couldn't help but fall in love with that dog. There really is a nice cast of characters that help to bring this story together.
I loved the way that this story was told. I was surprised by the level of humor throughout the story. S.T. knew how humans operated based solely on his experiences with Big Jim so his knowledge was a bit skewed. This story was also an emotional one. There were times that I got choked up but the turn the story took. I also appreciated the underlying message of the story. The reason behind the demise of humans is something that I would have to say has had a negative impact on our world in a lot of ways. I also liked the fact that we got to see how the animals fared without our interference and it was quite clear how much better the world can work when we work together.
I would definitely recommend this book to others. This funny, touching, and insightful story was unlike anything that I have read before. I will definitely be reading more from this talented author in the future.
I received a review copy of this book from Grand Central Publishing.
Initial Thoughts I really liked this book. A lot. I have been trying to decide if I should give it 4 or 5 stars. I am going with 4 for now but that might change. This book was funny, touching, and insightful. I thought that the whole concept was very well done and I really liked the underlying message. ST, Dennis, and all of the other animals were all great characters and I had a wonderful time going on this journey with them....more
I had a great time with this audiobook. I recently read six of the seven books in Kate This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
I had a great time with this audiobook. I recently read six of the seven books in Kate L. Mary's Broken World series and really enjoyed myself. When I saw that there was another series set in the same world, I knew that I needed to read those books. Once I started listening, I couldn't stop and ended up finishing the book in just a couple of days which is pretty fast for me with a book this length. It is safe to say that I enjoyed this book.
As I mentioned, this book is set in the same world as the Broken World series. I was happily surprised to find that many of the characters that I had grown to love in the first series were back in this book, just twenty years older. I think that readers could start with this book without any issues but readers of the earlier series will have some additional background information that could be helpful.
This book is partially told from Megan's point of view. Megan is Axl and Vivian's daughter and it was really nice to get to see her all grown up and navigating the world as competently as her parents had done in the previous series. Megan's father is missing and her mother isn't dealing with things very well so it is up to Megan to keep things together. She gets a couple of jobs in order to keep the bills paid. One of her jobs is in the entertainment district where she meets a convict fighter named Donaghy. It quickly becomes evident that there is more going on than Megan originally realized. I really liked both Megan and Donaghy's characters and I thought that they made a wonderful pair.
I liked the mystery in this book. The zombies have changed and it seems that there may be a whole mystery around those changes. The CDC was the organization that saved the world from the zombies but it seems they may be involved in a whole lot more. There were a few characters that I spent a lot of time trying to work out their true identities. There was a lot of action in this story to keep things very interesting.
Heather Firth did a great job with the narration of this book. I thought that she did a fantastic job with both the female and male points of view in this story. Her reading helped to bring this story to life by adding a lot of emotion to it. Her pacing was very well done and I found her voice to be very pleasant to listen to for hours at a time.
I would recommend this book to others. I think that this is a very well done story set in an interesting world. I thought that this book had a wonderful combination of action, mystery, and great characters. I cannot wait to start reading the rest of the series.
I received a review copy of this audiobook from the author.
Initial Thoughts I loved this! I loved the Broken World series and it was great to check in with all of the characters to see how time has treated them. This book is told from Megan's perspective who was born after the world fell apart. Things aren't looking great for Megan and her family and it was interesting to see the pieces of the puzzle start to come together. I thought that Heather Firth did a good job with the narration. I definitely plan to continue with the series....more
I had a fantastic time with this book. This is the sixth book in the Broken World serieThis review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
I had a fantastic time with this book. This is the sixth book in the Broken World series which really does need to be read in order. While there is a seventh book in the series, this book really wrapped up the main story. I feel like I have been on quite the adventure with Vivian and the rest of the book and I really wanted to see things work out for them. This was one of those books that was almost impossible to put down.
This book is told from Vivan's point of view. At the start of this book, the group is ready to start their trip to Atlanta. The CDC is up and running and the key to the cure that they are working on might just be Angus. The man in charge of the trip thinks that everything should be a piece of cake but Vivian, Axl, Angus and the rest of the group know that thing may not go as planned.
This was an emotional and exciting story. This story broke my heart and gave me hope, sometimes at the same time. There are a few scenes with some pretty intense action when I wasn't sure if our group would make it. When things did go wrong and a couple of characters were lost, I felt it. There were some pretty hard losses in this one. There were also some really great moments when characters put themselves in harm's way in order to protect someone else.
One of the biggest strengths of this book is the characters. I love how this group has grown both individually and together over the course of the series. Even the characters that are put in the story to test the group are incredibly well done. All of the emotions that this group goes through felt very real. They aren't perfect and they do make mistakes but they are always there for each other when it really matters.
I would highly recommend this series to fans of post-apocalyptic stories. I had a great time cheering this group on when things were going well and feeling crushed with them when they weren't. I have become a huge fan of Kate L. Mary and look forward to reading more of her work just as soon as I can.
Initial Thoughts This was great! There were some pretty tough losses and a lot of excitement in this installment. It has been wonderful watching the characters grow over the course of the series and saying goodbye to some of them was really hard. This really wrapped things up nicely. There is another book in the series which I am eager to start but it looks like it is about a character that was separated from the larger group.
I liked this book. If you have been following my reviews, you might have noticed that IThis review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
I liked this book. If you have been following my reviews, you might have noticed that I have been of a zombie kick lately so this book really did appeal to me. There were some things that I really liked about the story and a few things that I could have done without. It was an overall enjoyable read with enough action to really keep the pages turning for me. I am glad that I took a chance and decided to read this one.
My favorite parts of the book were the scenes involving zombies. There were some parts that had a lot of action and the descriptions were so well done that I had no trouble visualizing some pretty complex scenes. I had a pretty hard time setting the book down during any of these scenes. I also thought that the two settlements featured in the book were well done. They were both pretty unique living situations. I could completely imagine a city like the one at the start of this book becoming real if the world was put into an apocalypse situation. The second group was scary from the start largely because it felt like it could happen.
I knew going into this book that romance would come into play. I like romance and think that it often works well in this genre. I hate to say that the romantic aspect of this story didn't really work for me. I didn't really feel any chemistry between the characters and some parts of the story that just got bogged down with relationship drama. I am not a big fan of love triangles and I think that the romance in this story would have worked so much better if the focus could have stayed on two people. The fact that one party in the love triangle is married to someone else just didn't sit well with me either.
I thought that the world-building was well done in this book. I especially enjoyed all of the parts of this world that were a little different than other zombie books. I thought that the group's mission was worthwhile and liked learning a bit about the origin of the outbreak. The characters were also well done. The group was just the right size with a nice variety of personalities.
I would recommend this book to zombie fans and think that many might enjoy it a bit more than I did. I did think that the relationship drama calmed down by the end of the book and wouldn't hesitate to give the next book in the series a try.
I received an advanced review copy of this book from the author....more
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