Battle of the Network Zombies (Amanda Feral, #3)

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Battle of the Network Zombies (Amanda Feral #3)

by Mark Henry (Goodreads Author)

3.33 of 5 stars 3.33 · rating details · 177 ratings · 34 reviews

In Seattle’s undead circles, Amanda Feral is one of the beautiful zombies. Of course, when you’re socializing with werewolves, devils, and rampaging yetis, there’s not that much competition. Still, Amanda has a stylish rep to maintain, which is getting tricky now that her tanking ad agency is obliterating her finances. The fastest way to make some cash: appear on a new rea...more

Paperback, 288 pages

Published February 23rd 2010 by Kensington

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Urban Fantasy / PNR February 2010 Releases

9th out of 21 books — 23 voters

The Walking Dead, Vol. 1 by Robert Kirkman

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Sep 10, 2011 T.W. Brown rated it 4 of 5 stars

As a child, Saturday mornings meant a big bowl of Lucky Charms and cartoons. I was a huge fan of Bugs and Friends. That’s no-brainer. However, there was another early morning favorite…Scooby Doo. I loved trying to solve the mystery before the rubber mask was pulled off to reveal the dastardly culprit. Mark Henry’s Amanda Feral series is replacing that empty spot in my adult (notice I didn’t say grown-up) heart.

I must come clean early and say that Battle of the Network Zombie is my least favorite...more As a child, Saturday mornings meant a big bowl of Lucky Charms and cartoons. I was a huge fan of Bugs and Friends. That’s no-brainer. However, there was another early morning favorite…Scooby Doo. I loved trying to solve the mystery before the rubber mask was pulled off to reveal the dastardly culprit. Mark Henry’s Amanda Feral series is replacing that empty spot in my adult (notice I didn’t say grown-up) heart.

I must come clean early and say that Battle of the Network Zombie is my least favorite so far. I’m not saying that it is a bad story; I liken it to a 20 point effort from Kobe Bryant. For most players, that is a good game. For Kobe…not so much. Mr. Henry set the bar high with his first two books and I just feel that Battle of the network zombies didn’t clear the height that he set by his past efforts.

After saying all that, make no mistake, Battle of the Network Zombies is still fun. For zombie snobs (of which I count myself as a member) I remind you that this is not standard fare. It is rude, snarky, and more than just a little nasty. Go into the series with an open mind. I would warn those easily offended, but seriously, we’re zombie fans…’nuff said.

Amanda and her friends are facing several problems in this current adventure. It seems the nation’s economic woes have filtered into the world of the supernatural as well. Lacking a comprehensive medical reform has taken its toll on the accident prone Amanda. Her boss, who may or may not be The Devil, is not pleased: that is the least of Amanda’s problems. There are rampaging stripper-yeti’s, evil, pre-pubescent, ponytail sporting little girls with fowler disposition than Tony Soprano, Amanda’s recently-turned-vampire mommy-dearest, a crazy voodoo woman…oh yeah, and a murder mystery.

Since the rules are fluid in the world Mark Henry has created, figuring out whodunit is a little bit wonky. The fun is watching over Amanda’s shoulder as the misfortunes pile up. At times, it did seem as if the story tried too hard to be necro-sexy #1 and drifted away from the normal hilarity. I only laughed out loud once or twice while reading Battle of the Network Zombies. That is above average compared to most books I read that try to be funny, but for a Mark Henry story, that number does not measure up.

Bottom line, the book was good. Not great, but good. I will still wait anxiously for the next installment. I have faith that Mr. Henry will not disappoint. Taste is a personal thing, and there just seems to be something missing. The story elements are in place for further misadventures, and I remain a fan of Amanda Feral. I still recommend the book, just not as highly as the first two.

#1Bing! Coined it! Readers of the series will understand. And really, if you’re reading the third review and have yet to read book one…then I’m glad that you don’t get the joke.
(less)

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Aug 17, 2010 Courtney rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction-by-men, paranormal-twist

Pretty much the only reason I had this book was because it was a Kindle "Free Book of the Day," so I thought, "Why not?" I don't regret reading it, precisely, but I wish I had known a few things in advance. 1) This book was #3 in a series, so the main character--zombie Amanda Feral--makes several references to things that happened in previous books. Having not read books 1 and 2, I didn't know what she was talking about. Irritating. 2) This book had footnotes. As in the main character herself co...more

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Jan 13, 2010 Wicked Lil Pixie (Natasha) rated it 5 of 5 stars

In the deliciously vulgar third book in the Amanda Feral series, we see how far Miss Feral’s finances have taken a dive. Her car is repossessed, there’s all sorts of firings/layoff’s going on at Feral Inc. What’s a zombie to do when she gets offered the chance to judge a new reality show? Amanda judges for free people, why not get paid?! When Wood Nymph Johnny Birch is found murdered closely followed by the murders of two of the house guests, Amanda goes all Magnum PI, better dressed mind you an...more

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May 04, 2010 Amy rated it 2 of 5 stars

The plot is fairly original, even in the paranormal subgenres that have emerged in recent years, but there are several issues I have with the text, the major one being that, though it's supposed to have been written first-person from the point of view of a callous, jaded, money-hungry, celebrity-hounding ad executive (Amanda Feral), it reads like it was written by an adolescent boy with a preoccupation with aberrant sexual habits and bodily functions (as so many adolescent boys are):

1. It's very...more The plot is fairly original, even in the paranormal subgenres that have emerged in recent years, but there are several issues I have with the text, the major one being that, though it's supposed to have been written first-person from the point of view of a callous, jaded, money-hungry, celebrity-hounding ad executive (Amanda Feral), it reads like it was written by an adolescent boy with a preoccupation with aberrant sexual habits and bodily functions (as so many adolescent boys are):

1. It's very, very gory, and not necessarily with any real purpose. Zombies may have to eat, but you don't have to describe every slurp.
2. References lots of kink in rather graphic ways. I did not enjoy that. Much of the kink (much of the entire text, in fact) is just plain gross.
3. Misused/misspelled words: "since" for "sense"; "effect" for "affect." I CRINGE.

There are other serious issues as well:

1. Lots of unexplained jargon. Sometimes you can get it contextually, but sometimes not. There isn't even an explanation about being a zombie - how she got that way, what it's like, etc. Eventually you kinda pick it up in bits and pieces, but it requires a bit of thoughtful follow-through and this really is not the book for that.

2. Several characters are introduced without much explanation for who they are in Amanda's life. Eventually you might pick this up, but you're left wondering for quite a while. For example, her mother appears periodically in the story and always in hateful, derogatory terms. There is no hint of a history for the relationship and you have no idea why she hates her mother so very, very much.

3. Disjointed sentences and extremely poor editing. Several syntactical and grammatical errors that even a novice proofreader should have eliminated. The most egregious ones make my skin itch, but I've been able to just grit my teeth and soldier on.

4. Footnotes. EVERYWHERE. Apparently Mark Henry fell in love with the footnoterphone from The Eyre Affair and they are now carrying on a torrid and blissful romance in this book. And as lovers do, they completely ignore the fact that no one else wants to be party to their public displays of affection. He uses footnotes to communicate as the protagonist with the audience in asides which would be much better handled as parenthetical references right in the text. A couple of times it's cute, but most of the time it's irritating because it drags you out of the story and into Amanda's mental digression. Then you have to find your place again and try to jump back into the story, remembering what you were reading before the rude interruption. The other bad point is that most of these little trickles of semi-consciousness are perfectly inane and do not add anything to the story whatsoever, except to emphasize Amanda's highly acerbic nature.

Because of its original premise, and the unique creatures in the book, it has the potential of being an excellent read, but it requires heavy editing. I would be wary of anything else coming from Kensington Publishers. I hope this is not a sample of their best editing. (less)

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Mar 02, 2010 Tiffany Danner rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-review, 2010-reads

In the third installment of the Amanda Feral series Amanda is back, dirtier than ever. Her ad agency is on a downward spiral and her expense budget is in the toilet. In order to keep her condo and pay off her debt to the Reapers Amanda says yes to an opportunity to appear on a new reality show. Yet, things are never simple with Amanda and she finds herself in the middle of her very own murder mystery.

Amanda Feral books always makes me giggle and snort like kids do when they tell fart jokes. Batt...more

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Feb 26, 2010 Mandi Schreiner rated it 4 of 5 stars

Stylish Amanda Feral has found herself with a bit of a problem – lack of funds. To keep her zombie self in the height of fashion takes work, and money. Even more important than her designer clothes is her body, which takes work to keep the scratches, gashes and body parts all intact. When a zombie gets a boo-boo it doesn’t heal, and they must turn to the reapers to patch them up, which comes with a high price tag. The reapers want payment – now. Amanda’s advertising firm took a turn for the wors...more Stylish Amanda Feral has found herself with a bit of a problem – lack of funds. To keep her zombie self in the height of fashion takes work, and money. Even more important than her designer clothes is her body, which takes work to keep the scratches, gashes and body parts all intact. When a zombie gets a boo-boo it doesn’t heal, and they must turn to the reapers to patch them up, which comes with a high price tag. The reapers want payment – now. Amanda’s advertising firm took a turn for the worse when it was discovered that their new product, Necrophilique contained large amounts of fecal matter – not too attractive to prospective buyers.

All is not lost though – the resourceful Amanda has been invited on to a supernatural reality show, American Minions. Seeing the potential for a lot of money to be made, she reluctantly agrees. Wendy wiggles her way on the show as well, and the two of them get a little more than they bargained for when the host of the show turns up dead. Refusing to admit defeat (and just a little scared of the reapers) Amanda and Wendy take over the camera.

Meanwhile, Gil is battling a “gift” that a fellow lover left for him (involves painful urination, something Gil hasn’t done for decades) and Amanda and her sexy werewolf lover Scott find their relationship on the rocks. Amanda has plans to win him back - never underestimate a zombie on a mission.

Battle of the Network Zombies is the third installment in the Amanda Feral series and again, a wonderfully witty, fun book. Amanda must deal with her lack of money and her rotting body. For as snobby and stylish Amanda is, her body is a rotting time bomb. Any damage her body receives, even as little as a scratch, does not heal. So she is at the mercy of the reapers to fix her up, and that costs money. I love the contradiction to Amanda who is so fixated on looks and so quick to judge, yet underneath her designer duds is skin so pale and grey, and rotting breath. She accepts being a zombie full force, yet, she really does have to deal with disgusting issues.

Her relationship with Scott goes much deeper in this book, as he decides he has had enough of her shallow attempt at a relationship. When Scott walks away, Amanda dare I say, is sad. She realizes what she lost and is determined to get him back. Their love story is sweet in this book, and I found myself rooting for them to get back together.

Wendy and Gil round out the trio. Wendy is still battling her chocolate addiction and is there to support Amanda in her own special way. Gil is also looking for love, although his recent lover gave him more than he bargained for, he finds someone in an unlikely time.

In the past month, I have read all three books in the Amanda Feral series and I have enjoyed them so much. They bring something different to the urban fantasy genre, and I really hope we have not read the last of this great series.(less)

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Apr 09, 2012 Tanya rated it 1 of 5 stars

I'm not a prude, but this book had way to much nasty sex for me. Sex is ok when it fits into the story, but this was over the top trashy and disgusting in almost every paragraph. The concept of the undead world in our live world was somewhat interesting, but the main character Amanda is really not at all likeable. She's bitchy and super concerned with her appearance. I'm wondering if the man who wrote this book thinks that all women are concerned with are their looks and fashion. I know it's sup...more

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Feb 23, 2010 Larissa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Amanda is back, bitchier than ever in Battle of The Network Zombies and I LOVED it! It's sad to think of this series ending, it so is... This book was hilarious!

Amanda is drowning in debt, she owes a lot of money to the Reapers, the supernatural version of Doctors, and the little bitches are trying to collect their money. What is a girl to do? Become a judge on a new Supernatural Reality Show, of course.

The craziness start even before we get to the show and it just gets more insane as we go alon...more

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Apr 18, 2013 Jen rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013-pan-titles-a-z, 2013-pan-uf, 2013-ufa-creature-comforts, 2013-04-ufa-april-fools, 2013-04-pan-critters, stars-3-5-good, pcpl-read, features-werewolves, features-vampires, features-zombies, features-ghosts, genre-urban-fantasy, reviewed

3.5 stars

While I enjoyed this book, it failed to grab me as much as the first two entries in the Amanda Feral series (Happy Hour of the Damned and Road Trip of the Living Dead). I think my lessening enjoyment may actually be due to Amanda's snarkiness. Ordinarily, I love snarkiness, as it's so very humorous to me. However, in this third entry it was becoming juvenile. :-( However, Mark Henry did have Amanda "mature" a little bit; I was surprised and pleased to see her admit that she (view spoi ...more

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Jun 22, 2012 Amie Simon rated it 4 of 5 stars

A satisfying end to the Amanda Feral trilogy. Ms. Feral is just as feisty as ever, this time in the midst of bankruptcy issues and reality shows filled with new supernatural characters. As ever, working to keep her body from falling apart and looking gorgeous. I'm not sure why, but the reapers in this book seem even more frightening than previous books -- and Amanda's mother is in top form too. LOVED the whole trilogy, and am hoping for more Amanda books in the future (HINT HINT).

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Nov 19, 2009 Lori Whitwam rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal, urban-fantasy

(Advance Reading Copy)

So happy to see Amanda back and snarky as ever! To bolster her struggling finances, she agrees to judge a paranormal reality show... but then must figure out how to still make a buck when the obnoxious host is found incinerated. With the help of her fellow zombie chick Wendy, and (surprisingly) her newly vampirized and zombie strip-club-owner mother, Amanda sets out to solve the crime and keep herself in hot shoes and body repairs.

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Apr 15, 2010 Sally rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: didn-t-finish

Okay, I admit, I didn't know this was part of a series before I borrowed it from the library. The blurb on the back made it sound like a fun book and I've got nothing against vampires, zombies and other non-humans. I've enjoyed Carrie Vaughan's Kitty books, for example.

But I knew by the end of the first scene (set in an intentionally non-classy strip joint) that this book just wasn't for me. I might like books on the undead, but I can do without the gratuitous sexual references and foul language...more

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Aug 06, 2010 Roswita rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: amanda-feral, zombies

A splendid conclusion to this irreverent series about a fashionista zombie and her BFF. Amanda tries her hand at mystery-solving when the host of American Minions, wood nymph Johnny Birch, is found murdered. Much mayhem and hilarity ensue in the now trademark Mark Henry style. This is a great read and I look forward to learning what Mr. Henry comes out with next.

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Feb 09, 2010 Joe rated it 5 of 5 stars

Mark definitely takes his snark and his naughtiness to a new level in this book. Final line from my expanded review on my blog...

"This book is like having sex with a dislocated shoulder, it is really uncomfortable at times but you are having too much fun to stop."

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Mar 08, 2010 Ashley rated it 4 of 5 stars

I loved this book! It was hilarious,sexy and full of swearing. Amanda is a zombie who works in showbiz and is making a supernatural reality tv show. Add a little murder, a transexual werewolf and a very unhygenic stripper and it makes one funny book.

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Aug 13, 2011 WynterAngel Zsun rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Read this book 1st not knowing that it was part of a series and instantly fell in luv with the characters and the author ... So laugh riot funneh that I had to quiet myself while reading in public. Found myself talking about the book at length unable to put it down! ...

Recommended read for sure! ... A do not miss!

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Aug 02, 2011 Amber Moore added it

This book was so funny and it wasn't the first one! I had to back up and read the first one now! I love it!

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Dec 11, 2009 Rachel rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: humor, paranormal, read-in-09, sci-fi-fanstasy

Lucky enough to read an Advanced Reading Copy!

Amanda's such a snarky bitch, and I LOVE it. There better be more on the way.

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Apr 26, 2010 Cindi (cheesygiraffe) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: kindle, 2010-read

A little romance and little mystery this time around. But Amanda is as snarky as ever. You got to love her.

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Dec 06, 2010 Sooziemac McLaughlin rated it 5 of 5 stars

Really funny & actually original...Loved it, loved it, loved it!!!

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Feb 18, 2012 Christine Desrochers-Broderick rated it 2 of 5 stars

I really loved the 2nd book in the series. "road trip..." but this one bored me.

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Jan 04, 2011 Sc rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

I think the Amanda feral series has run its course for me.

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Dec 30, 2010 Starla B rated it 1 of 5 stars

Did not like, will not finish.

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Jun 02, 2010 Katrina Isis rated it 4 of 5 stars

Funny. I couldn't stop laughing.

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Jul 25, 2011 Metagion added it

This book was fantastic! I loved how the writer made you more of a confidante then anything else, and the characters are very interesting...I gotta get more of his work :)

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May 17, 2010 Cleo Maranski rated it 3 of 5 stars

No as good as previous ones, but still a hell of a lot of fun to read.

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Feb 20, 2011 Teresa Ingram Basye rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011

I was put off by the new cover art, I know that really shouldn't matter but I liked the cover art from the first two books very much and the cartoon look just didn't do it for me on the third, not classy enough for our Amanda...just my opinion. Usual Amanda shenanigans...and wicked quips, lot of fun.

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Mar 30, 2010 Lauren rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: i-won-this-book, own

I won this book through Goodreads.com! This. Book. Was. Hilarious!!! I can't wait to read the first 2 books in the Amanda Feral series!!

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Apr 10, 2010 Kallierose rated it 3 of 5 stars

Totally forgot about this one! I finished it a while ago and it was just as fun and funny as I expected.

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Jan 13, 2011 Kristy Jo rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really like Mark Henrys snarky sense of humor and an interesting twist on zombies being in the regular world with jobs and friends. I would definitely recommend this book to zombie lovers who love mysteries and snarky humor.

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About Mark Henry

MARK HENRY traded a career as a counselor to scar minds with his fiction. In stories clogged with sentient zombies, impotent sex demons, transsexual werewolves and ghostly goth girls, he irreverently processes traumatic issues brought on by premature exposure to horror movies, an unwholesome fetish for polyester and/or witnessing adult cocktail parties in the swingin' 70s. A developmental history...more

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Books by Mark Henry

Happy Hour of the Damned (Amanda Feral, #1)

Road Trip of the Living Dead (Amanda Feral, #2)

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