THE FEAR by Charlie Higson-REVIEW

THE FEAR is the third book in the Enemy series. The reading order is THE ENEMY, THE DEAD, and THE FEAR. The timeline of the novels is a little out of whack, but each novel includes a new main cast of characters so it doesn't matter too much. THE DEAD actually takes place before THE ENEMY and THE FEAR starts after THE DEAD and catches up and passes THE ENEMY.

In this horrifying world, children are battling for their lives against their mothers, fathers, and older siblings. (In THE ENEMY, the reader is introduced to the sickness that has spread through London and affected everyone 15-yrs-old and over, turning them into crazed, diseased killers that feast on the young children left behind.)

This is a frightening world where the children have to fight for survival every minute of the day. In THE FEAR we follow DogNut and Courtney as they travel across London in hopes of finding friends they were separated from a year ago. As they navigate the dangerous streets of London, DogNut and Courtney fight the Mothers and Fathers hiding around every corner.

THE FEAR is filled with death, blood, and violence. It isn't for the faint of heart. Charlie Higson writes one cringe-worthy scene after another.

This one was a tough one to read - so brutal and sad. I can't wait to read the next one, THE SACRIFICE.

Z by Michael Thomas Ford-REVIEW

Josh is a top-rated player in a virtual zombie hunting game. He plays every chance he gets – even though his mother frequently grounds him from it.  Hunting zombies isn’t a game to his mother.  Her sister was infected with the virus that turned her into a raving, deadly monster.

The video game models what the world went through years ago when zombies were a problem.  The government formed teams of Torchers to hunt and kill the zombies and a lot of people still have those horrible pictures in their minds.  The kids playing the virtual reality game  didn’t live through the horrors of the zombie scare and find it thrilling to hunt and torch them.

When Josh gets a personal invitation to join an elite group of players to hunt very realistic zombies, he is thrilled.  Not only does he get to play the game he loves up close and personal, but it is live action and he gets a chance to make some money too.  The better he plays, the more he makes.

It doesn’t take long for Josh to realize things aren’t exactly as they seem.  The zombies they are fighting are extremely realistic and some of his teammates begin to disappear. He soon finds out what it means to fight for his life and what it was like when zombies could pop up anywhere at anytime.

Z is a story filled with a lot of zombie-killing action. If you need a book to lure in a reluctant boy reader – this is it!!!

SOULLESS by Christopher Golden-REVIEW

For the first time ever, three powerful mediums are going to join hands on a live morning TV show in order to conduct the largest ever seance. The minute they join hands, people in the live studio audience begin to hear voices and feel the bone chilling cold that is so often associated with the spirit world. Panic breaks out and rightly so….the spirits have been given the opportunity to come through an open door into the world of the living and they aren’t wasting any time.

Spirits are returning to their dead and decomposing bodies and raising up from their graves. Zombies begin to brutally attack anyone unfortunate enough to get in their path. A group of strangers are thrown together and forced to find a way to survive - even if what they have to do is very unpleasant.

Christopher Golden has delivered a genuine horror novel. Blood and gore flow free throughout the chapters. However, as weird as this may sound, the violence portrayed in SOULLESS is done tastefully and not disgusting at all. SOULLESS is a thrill ride - a thrill ride with flesh eating zombies every step of the way.

ROT & RUIN AND DUST & DECAY by Jonathan Maberry-REVIEW

Tom and Benny Imura survived First Night when the world as they knew it turned upside down. Where the dead became reanimated. They lost their parents that night.


Mountainside is their home now. A town surrounded by fences to keep the zombies away. Benny is now 14 and has to choose a job in order to keep receiving his full rations. Tom earns a living as a bounty hunter. He goes out into the Rot & Ruin to find people's family members and put them to death permanently.

Benny loves to hang out with Charlie Pink-Eye and his hoodlum friend The Motorcity Hammer. He loves to hear their stories of how they kill zoms out in the Rot & Ruin. In Benny's mind compared to Charlie and Hammer his brother Tom is a coward.

As time has finally run out for Benny to find a job he agrees to go with Tom out into the Ruin to see what the "family business" is really like. What he learns is that Tom doesn't just randomly kill zombies. He teaches Benny that each zombie used to be a REAL person, a member of a family and deserves that respect. Tom "quiets" the zombies he is sent out to find. He reads them a letter from their family member and he then quiets them so they are no longer roaming around as zombies. It gives closure to the family member. This confuses Benny as he has a strong hate for the zombies and after all of Charlie's and Hammer's stories he has never thought of them as being real people.

Benny finds that not all bounty hunters are as compassionate as his brother Tom. In fact he hears about a place that some of the bounty hunters take innocent children to and make them fight zombies. When Benny happens to get a collector card of the "Lost Girl" one day he finds that this is a "mythical" girl that is supposedly out in the Ruin who may know some of the dealings of the bounty hunters.

As a storm rages over the city and the fence fails Benny finds out to what lengths these bounty hunters will go to protect their interest in the gaming park. Benny and Tom go out into the Ruin to rescue Benny's friend Nix and to find the Lost Girl who may be able to show them where the games take place. What happens while out in the Ruin is horrible and will change their lives forever.

Oh my goodness! Why have I waited so long to read this book? It was soooo good! Really though I'm glad I waited because I have my copy of Rot & Ruin and the sequel Dust & Decay autographed by Jonathan Maberry. Dust & Decay comes out in August but I snagged an ARC copy at the TLA conference I went to. Yay me! Anyway, this was such a good book. I had to close it several times because I couldn't take the suspense, but then I would have to open it and read on to find out what happens! Even though this is a zombie book I was more interested in the human relationships that were going on. Excellent read!

Benny just turned fifteen. In his world that means he must find a job in order to continue receiving his rations. The problem is, Benny can’t find a job he likes. He and his best friend, Chong, waited too long to get one and all the easy jobs are gone. What’s left aren’t very appealing. He’s tried being a locksmith, a fence tester, a fence technician, a carpet coat salesman, a pit thrower, a crank generator repairman, a spotter, a bottler, and an erosion artist. It seems like the only option left is to join the family business.


Benny’s brother, Tom, is one of the most respected and successful zombie killers. The problem is, Benny doesn’t know why people think Tom’s that great. He’s never seen Tom do anything especially exciting or impressive – in fact, he’s actually turned away from violence, which makes Benny think Tom’s a coward. Tom is nothing like the totally cool Zombie Killers like Charlie Pink-Eye and Motor City Hammer. Benny has never intended to do what Tom does. He’s always said no every time Tom asked him to become his apprentice. But, his lack of success in any other job has left him no choice.

Benny learns a lot while out in the Rot & Ruin with Tom. He learns about his own past, what it is that Tom really does, and what separates man from monster. Benny’s outlook on life completely changes as he begins to realize there might be more to life than just his small town of Mountainside.

ROT & RUIN is a perfect choice for readers who enjoyed THE FOREST OF HANDS AND TEETH. Both books take place in a small town of survivors surrounded by fences that keep the zombies out. ROT & RUIN is set in a time when people still remember what happened when the zombies started rising, so the reader gets some first-hand accounts of First Night (the night the world changed). ROT & RUIN also gives us some of the blood and gore that we sometimes want in a zombie novel.

Jonathan Maberry did an excellent job developing the characters and creating an interesting setting. The reader can get lost in Benny’s world. ROT & RUIN gets the Stay Awake Award because I couldn’t put it down. In fact, I stayed up to 3:30 A.M. one night to finish. This story caused me to cringe, gasp, chuckle, and cry. Absolutely amazing!

For 7 months Tom has been training Benny, Lilah, Nix, and Chong how to survive in the Rot & Ruin. Preparing them for their trek east in search of the jet they all saw fly over them months before. Nix cannot wait to leave all of her memories behind. Lilah cannot wait to feel freedom outside of the fences. Chong is only going for an overnight camping trip to further his training and of course to be with Lilah for a little while longer.


Once in the Rot & Ruin though things do not go the way they planned. Things seem to be happening in the Ruin that indicate that Gameland is once again up and running. While checking out a dead body they encounter Preacher Jack. A man whose title doesn't match his evil countenance.

When they all become separated things go from bad to worse. Not only struggling against the living dead, they are also having to contend with an evilness in humans that they never thought possible.

Once again Jonathan Mayberry has kept me on the edge of my seat! There were times in the story that I would get so stressed out that I had to set the book down for a while! This is an ARC copy that I received at TXLA in April. Jonathan Mayberry was kind enough to autograph it for me. It comes out in stores in August of 2011. I cannot wait for the next book in the series!

Benny made it back from the Rot & Ruin only to start training with his brother, Tom, to leave again. After seeing the airplane fly over, Benny, Nix, Lilah, and Tom have been anxious to find out where it was going. Could there be civilization beyond the Rot & Ruin?


Every day Tom trains Benny, Nix, Lilah, and Chong. He prepares them to fight the Zoms they are sure to encounter on their long trek across the dangerous country. Everyone has different feeling about leaving home. Benny isn’t sure he wants to leave FOREVER, but is willing to in order to be with Nix. Nix, who has nothing left is desperate to leave behind all the bad memories. Lilah just wants to feel freedom and live outside the fences again. Tom decides he has to leave since his countless pleas to the town leader’s to build up defenses have fallen on deaf ears. Chong, without the permission of his parents, is staying behind.

Tom plans an overnight trip to help the kids practice living beyond the fences. Chong is given permission to accompany his friends for this short adventure which gives him more time to spend with Lilah.

The overnight outing doesn’t go as planned and the kids are separated from each other and Tom. Evidence points to the possibility that Gameland is up and running again and even worse, could Charlie Pink Eye still be alive?

DUST & DECAY is filled with danger and excitement, love and hatred. It keeps the reader engaged from the first page. The horrors the characters live through is heartbreaking. This is a zombie book that will bring you to tears.


Julie agrees to meet Karin halfway on these two books. While I totally enjoyed both of these books and think that they are very appropriate for most readers there are some disturbing images in them.

THE DARK AND HOLLOW PLACES by Carrie Ryan-REVIEW

The final installment to The Forest of Hands and Teeth Trilogy was not disappointing!


Annah has been surviving on her own in the Dark City for a long time. In fact she has been waiting for Elias to return to her for 3 years. Elias joined the Recruiters 3 years before and has not returned to the city. Annah still has hope that he will come back to her. Finally realizing that she cannot wait forever she is determined to go searching for him. On her way out of the city though she sees someone entering that looks very familiar. In fact she looks just like Annah! She knows immediately that it is her sister that she and Elias left in the Forest many years before.

While searching the city for her sister Annah meets Catcher. She is attracted to him but unable to let her heart care for someone else. At the same time a massive horde has attacked the city. Annah risks going back to her flat to gather personal belongings and weapons. When she arrives she finds Elias there waiting for her. They escape to the island that the Protectorate is living on. The Protectorate hold Annah, her sister Abigail(now Gabry) and Elias hostage and demand that Catcher in his immune state make trips into the city finding supplies to keep the island inhabitants alive.

Annah is elated to finally be reunited with her sister. With that elation comes heartbreak though as she sees the bond between Abigail and Elias. Their love cannot be denied.

The island is a nightmare for Annah. The Recruiters are cruel and heartless. Their commander Ox has stated that Annah and her group should stay clear of the Recruiters because if anything happened he would definitely side with his men. All seems hopeless. Annah begins to wonder why people continue to struggle to survive the massive hordes that are taking over the earth.

All is not lost though and Annah has to believe that all humanity will not be wiped out by the undead.

As with the other 2 books in the series The Dark and Hollow Places is a roller coaster ride of excitement and heart-stopping action. The last several pages had me biting my nails and reading as fast as I could to see the final outcome!

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Unlike the previous two books in this trilogy, this story takes place in the city where people have been eeking out a living ever since the Return. Even though life is dangerous and difficult - the people have been relatively safe from the Unconsecrated. While there are some wandering around, someone who knows how to fight can take care of them.


Annah's life is full of regret. She regrets leaving her sister behind in the forest. She regrets the event that left her scarred for life. She especially regrets allowing Elias to leave.

Annah has had to manage life on her own for over three years - ever since Elias left to join the Recruiters. Every day she hopes he'll show up and she can feel complete again - maybe even relax a little since she won't have to survive alone.

Eventually, Annah gives up and decides to leave the City, but on her way out she glimpses someone that looks just like her - her sister. She made the immediate decision to turn around and find her. Annah lost Abigail once - she wasn't going to do it again.

The Horde is forcing people in the City to look for safety. The City with its walls and bridges and guards have been relatively safe for years, but it has never been assaulted by the number of Unconsecrated that have awakened and are on their way to the City.

Annah searches the City high and low looking for Abigail only to discover she has been taken to the Recruiters' island headquarters. After running into Catcher and reuniting with Elias, they make their way to the island to get Abigail - but mostly for safety since the Horde has breached the City walls.

Instead of being a safe haven, the island turns out to be a prison as they are held against their will. They come face-to-face with nightmares that shouldn't be possible with the humans around them. Annah especially sees the monster in the Recruiters and devotes her time to finding a way off of the island. She convinces her sister, Elias, and Catcher that life can continue away from the City.

THE DARK AND HOLLOW PLACES is a perfect conclusion to the trilogy. Annah's point of view is fascinating. Life has never been easy for her, yet she is able to maintain hope and instill that hope in others. The damage she has (inside and out) really makes it difficult for her to feel wanted and loved by others. Her insecurities cause her to put up walls, making her seem tough on the outside. It is heartbreaking to read her inner thoughts - to see what she really thinks about herself and her scars.

As for readers that are new to this trilogy, I highly recommend you read all three of the book in order. THE FOREST OF HANDS AND TEETH, THE DEAD-TOSSED WAVES, and THE DARK AND HOLLOW PLACES. This way you'll have a full understanding of the world you are reading about. I feel THE FOREST OF HANDS AND TEETH gives the best descriptions of the Unconsecrated whereas in THE DARK AND HOLLOW PLACES we need to use what we already know to help us complete the picture of the Horde breaking into the City.

The way THE DARK AND HOLLOW PLACES ends is great. Very hopeful! I can see another off-shoot series developing with the way things are at the end. I'd love to read the novels that could follow this trilogy. Let's just hope Carrie Ryan isn't sick of the world she has created. Even if she is, maybe she'll come back to it one day and let us know how everything turns out.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Julie agrees to meet Karin halfway on The Dark and Hollow Places. She totally enjoyed the series even though the books tended to be rather "dark". The redeeming feature in all 3 books for her is the vein of hope that constantly runs through each story. In each book there is a strong female character that carries that hope for herself and the people around her. Dealing with Zombies(Unconcecrated, the horde, the Returned, the Undead) there is a lot of gruesome killing that goes on in the books which may not be for all audiences. Also there is allusion to sexual activity that may not appeal to all readers.
 
If you have read this trilogy COMMENT and let us know what you think.

Edifying Meets Edgy Halfway - THE FOREST OF HANDS AND TEETH by Carrie Ryan

In Mary's world there are simple truths. The Sisterhood always knows best. The Guardians will protect and serve. The Unconsecrated will never relent. And you must always mind the fence that surrounds the village; the fence that protects the village from the Forest of Hands and Teeth. But, slowly, Mary’s truths are failing her. She’s learning things she never wanted to know about the Sisterhood and its secrets, and the Guardians and their power, and about the Unconsecrated and their relentlessness. When the fence is breached and her world is thrown into chaos, she must choose between her village and her future—between the one she loves and the one who loves her. And she must face the truth about the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Could there be life outside a world surrounded in so much death?

I have never read a zombie book and so was very skeptical about picking up The Forest of Hands and Teeth. From the very beginning it captured my attention! I enjoyed it very much. Because it has so much death and peril in it I wouldn't consider it to be very edifying.The book is pretty descriptive of the zombie's(unconsecrated) as they rattle fences and you can almost hear the moaning that they emit. But it has little or no language or sexual references which makes it an easy book to recommend for the middle school age level.

Unlike Julie, I was dying to read this book the minute I started seeing the buzz about it on the Internet. THE FOREST OF HANDS AND TEETH is an enthralling post-apocalyptic masterpiece. Carrie Ryan’s description of the unrelenting Unconsecrated comes through loud and clear to the reader. At times, the suspense will cause you to put the book down for fear of what you might read next only to pick it up again because you can’t wait to find out. You’ll be able to feel the boney fingers of each and every Unconsecrated reaching for you as you turn page after page of this amazing novel. The ending definitely leaves the reader begging for the next installment in this amazing series.

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