Life After the Undead

Life After the Undead #1

by Pembroke Sinclair

Seventeen-year-old Krista must quickly figure out how she’s going to survive in the zombie-destroyed world. The one advantage humans have is that the zombies hate humid environments, so they’re migrating west to escape its deteriorating effects. The survivors plan to construct a wall at North Platte to keep the undead out, and Krista has come to Nebraska to start a new life.

Zombies aren’t the only creatures she has to be cautious of—the other survivors have a dark side. Krista must fight not only to live but also to defend everything she holds dear—her country, her freedom, and ultimately, those she loves.

Join Krista in her quest to survive in this thrilling apocalyptic novel by Pembroke Sinclair.

Genres: Zombies, Horror, Young Adult, Fiction, Science Fiction, Dystopia, Fantasy

248 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

Sign up for my newsletter, and I'll send you an ebook copy of Life After the Undead--my young adult zombie novel!
http://eepurl.com/bXJH-L

I am an editor by day and a zombie-killer by night (at least in my books). Since the first time I watched Night of the Living Dead, I have been obsessed with zombies and I often think of ways to survive the uprising.

I have written YA novels about zombies and the tough teens who survive the apocalyptic world, along with adult novels in the sci fi and fantasy genres. I have also written kids' books under the pen name J.D. Pooker.

I have written nonfiction stories for Serial Killer Magazine and published a book about slasher films called Life Lessons from Slasher Films under my real name.

For more information, please check out my blog at pembrokesinclair.blogspot.com or email me at
pembrokesinclair[at]hotmail[dot]com.

Reviews

[Donita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Life After The Undead is surprisingly the very first zombie novel I've ever read and this is certainly not going to be the last time!



It wasn't really my intention to avoid reading zombie novels. I just never had the chance to read one sooner because, well I know this is embarrassing, but I thought, watching about them is more interactive and believable. You know like TWD, Dawn of the Dead etc. yeah well, I totLLY underestimated my imagination.

Life After The Undead was such a fast-paced and action packed book that I was having a hard time putting it down. The story brought you right away in the apocalypse with Krista that you barely have time to breath!

"The day the world did end was pretty nondescript. By that I mean there was no nuclear explosion or asteroid or monumental natural disaster. There weren’t even any horsemen or plagues to announce the end was coming. The world ended fairly quietly."

This follow the story of Krista as she try to live her life alone in this post-apocalyptic world where the dead rose from the grave suddenly craving from the flesh. Krista is a very realistic and adorable MC that I was able to connect with her from the very first chapter of the book.

"I had fascination with the dark, the macabre, although I wasn't a Goth or Emo. I read books and magazines about serial killers. I didn't idolized them or want to be like them-hell no- I was fascinated with how evil and black a human's soul could get."

Once upon a time, before I become a software developer, I originally wanted to be a psychologist. I don't know, sometime, watching people do what they do fascinates me. But enough about me! Allow me to introduce more of Krista. Her fascination with the human behavior eventually proved to be useful as it helped her be emotionally prepared to survived the "Zompocalypse".

Krista's family were able to survive the first wave of the attack of the zombies, they managed to survive because of Krista's intuition alone, until her father decided that to split up is the best idea to look for help. Her father goes out alone and when he didn't return overnight, her mother followed to look for him, leaving Krista alone to survive.

"There had to be survivors. I had to find them. Human life always found a way to survive the direst situations. It was the only glimmer of hope I had."

Krista's brave, a little bit spoiled(being the only child that she is) but practical, strong and a freaking bad-ass! In short she's one hell of a kick-ass girl that you would definitely root for!

"I realized at that moment, I didn't need to worry about the creatures, they needed to worry about me. I cautioned myself about being cocky, but I thought I deserved to bask in my awesomeness for a few minutes."

You go girl!

I enjoy this book a lot, I ALMOST finished it in one sitting, if not for all the responsibilities that demands my attention! There were never dull moments on the book which is a total winner for me. Romance? What do you mean Romance? The world is fucking filled with zombies, who's got time to flirt with any one?

"Guys? Who the hell cared about guys at this point in time?"

LOL. Just Kidding. There's actually this one guy, Quinn who suddenly appears and made Krista felt something she haven't felt before. No- it's nothing like those ridiculous insta-love we used to read in some YA books. I like their relationship as they aren't dependent on each other. They've got each other's back and I think that's just the sweetest.



One of the only complain I have is that the world-building wasn't much established. Just like any other story about Zombies, the story didn't much elaborate where the Undead came from yet, which is one of the reason I'm definitely looking forward to read the next book in this series, I'm hoping more of it will be revealed in the next book.

Regardless of my only issue, I love a lot of things in this book to care. I love the new cover. I love all of the action, gore and bloods included that made me unable to put the book down so easily, it's refreshingly surprising. I love the relatable and strong-ass heroine and I absolutely love the light romance included in the book.

If you enjoy reading Zombie Novels and doesn't shy away with gores and blood with a flawed, yet strong heroine then Life after the Undead is definitely more than worth a try!

This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This doesn't in any way affect my opinion and review. :)

[Sherry Fundin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bonded with Krista quickly because of her curiosity, the need to know why the zombies do what they do and we head to Florida, traveling through the grisly horror with the excellent writing and storyline, including a laugh or two along the way.

[Nev Murray · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I didn’t really expect too much out of this book. I was wrong. I got a hell of a lot from it. Without trying to give too much away, it ends with a possibility of more. I sincerely hope there is, Pembroke Sinclair!"

See here for the full review:

Life After the Undead

[SerialReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great page turning book that captivated my attention since the very beginning.
Intriguing and well written. Great characters.
Hope the end was left open on purpose... a sequel, maybe?

[Amber Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly bounced back and forth on 3 or 4 stars with this one. Had to go with the 4 because Sinclair pulled off some great writing.
Krista is in high school when the outbreak hits Oregon and when the bus driver comes towards you screaming for you to run you had better be like Krista and listen. While you only briefly learn of her life before things go truly south you get a sense of the kind of person she is and is becoming. It's hard to go into to much detail about this without spoiling so much but she ends up with a distant family member named Liet who is a power hungry freak with so many deep personality issues. One of those characters you absolutely love to hate (and I haven't had that since Game of Thrones ended). Part of the country lives relatively care free in a totally naïve state, while the other is attempting to build a wall to keep the east clear of the zombie menace. But then the real question becomes Are The Zombies The Real Menace? I'm thinking not. This book had a touch of everything from amazing fights, characters you want to punch in the head and even that hint of a romance. Most important of all is that Krista becomes a badass fighter all on her own and I love her for it. Arm swords make everyone cooler. I look forward to reading the follow up and by that I mean I already I have it on my table as I type this and I legit just finished this one. Oh how I do love zombie literature.

[MsArdychan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Please Note: I was given an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influenced my opinions of this book.

The book, Life After The Undead is all about conflict: Zombies vs. people, people vs. people, The main character, Krista vs. her cousin, the controlling Liet. There was a constant tension throughout the book as you didn't know when the zombies (or Liet) would strike. I was conflicted as well. I really did like this book. But I also had some strong feelings about Krista that I would like to share.

As much as I was rooting for Krista to survive, I also found her rather self-centered. Of course, the story is told from Krista's viewpoint, but I wish she had shown some concern for others and what they were feeling. Everything that happens is only about how it affects her. If someone dies, she isn't sad about what a horrible death that must have been for the person. No, she is more concerned with how this affects her. She actually gets mad at some of the victims for getting killed! She was also angry that a friend may have been bitten. She never once expresses how distressing it must be for that person to have to wonder if they were going to become a zombie. Some anger was understandable. Perhaps it's her immaturity that makes her this way, but shouldn't she have been concerned about these people, even just a little? Or was this part of the PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) that she probably had? I don't know.

What I do know is that this is a very enjoyable book. I must admit, I have never read a zombie book before, but I was impressed with the eerie mood that author Pembroke Sinclair created throughout the book. Even in the scenes where the characters were "safe", I always wondered whether the zombies would break through and attack!

Along side the post-apocalyptic scenario was a very powerful story of living with an abusive adult. This story line could have been told in a different setting altogether, and it is what grounded the tale in reality for me. Every character has lost loved ones; every character is dealing with the trauma of seeing people die in horrible ways. It was intriguing to see how each person dealt with this. One of the main characters uses what happens to justify their controlling and abusive behavior. There were several groups of people who took advantage of the situation to obtain power. What is it they say: absolute power corrupts, absolutely? Well, this story show that adage in action.

As enjoyable as this was, I was disappointed that more was not resolved by the ending, which is why I am deducting half a star from my rating. Clearly, the author hopes to make this into a series. There are many possibilities for further adventures for Krista, with new survivors she could meet along the way. I think the author has created a scenario that could sustain several books. I just wish that the main conflict between Krista and one of the other characters would have had a more definitive conclusion.

[Lauren Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was provided with a copy of Life after the Undead in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed reading this immensely. This book begins with a girl named Krista who has just experienced the zombocalypse in Oregon. She hurries home and finds her parents there, but her mother thinks that her husband and daughter are playing a cruel joke on her. After watching the undead literally chew the arm off a woman outside of their window, they must get to a safe place quickly. Once they begin to venture out of their house, they have no idea where to go for safety. The whole world has fallen victim to the walking dead and all hope of life seems to have vanished until they see survivors at the closest base. Against Krista’s gut feeling, her father goes to the base for more information on what caused everything and where they need to go now. His disappearance begins the excruciatingly difficult adventure that lay before Krista. After her mother is attacked, she is alone in the world—a world filled with dread and fear around every corner. Will she be able to make it to other survivors or will she end up like the rest?

My favorite character is Krista, the main character. She is strong and confident, yet she does show compassion as well as a sense of humanity throughout the entire read. While some of the characters show a complete lack of humanity or morale, she is the complete opposite. Her bravery and her ability to think quickly on her feet are the two traits that earn her a lot of respect. My least favorite character is Leit. He is controlling and deceitful. When he comes to find Krista, a long lost cousin—Krista is not fooled by what she has been told. She knows that he had gone to prison, she knows that he was the only one to accept the general position out in Nebraska, a hell hole for criminals. She also knows that if she doesn’t leave her sanctuary in Florida, she will never know what life is like out there. After two years, she is tired of living with a false sense of self. The zombies took everything away from her—well it’s time to take it back!

In my overall opinion, I really believe that this story deserves five stars. I love The Walking Dead, so of course—I figured that I would like this book. This story portrays an accurate description of what I see in my mind if something like this were ever to happen. Not only a zombocalypse, but any virus or disease of sorts that could decimate nearly an entire population. I truly sympathized with Krista and the things that she had to endure—mostly because she was alone. The originality and creativity is spectacular, the character development is superb. I am very impressed with this author’s writing style, quick pace and ability to hold me at the edge of my seat waiting to find out who will die and who will survive to see another day. I look forward to reading more by this author in the future, but would really love to read more about Krista’s continued journey with building the wall.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first started reading this book, I was a little taken back. I have seen quite a few, if not all, of the zombie movies and am a HUGE fan of "The Walking Dead". That being said, it was really, really weird to read about zombies vs. watching them.

The stories progressed fairly quickly. I like that in a book as I don't always have time to sit and read a huge novel. But, trust me when I say, that the shortness of the books does not take away from the awesomeness.

I love the story of the world ending. Of course it does, there are zombies!! How do you combat that? But, Krista doesn't hold back! I love her character! She is mean and nasty but so vulnerable at the same time. An outcast from a society without zombies, she knows that once inside the gates of the safe-haven in Florida, she is just as socially screwed. But, that doesn't deter her, or keep her from making a very good friend and a helpful enemy (you will see what I mean when you read them).

After making the decision that the safe-haven was not the place for her (for various reasons that you have to read to know about), she leaves to a place she thinks will be better because she has her freedom. But, little does she know that a tyrant in a uniform with a lot of power holds the key to her happiness. And he isn't very willing to let it go. Especially, when she meets Quinn. The handsome, caring, loving, man she meets that helps her find herself, her strength, and her heart. This lowly tyrant being her only surviving relative doesn't help the situation in the slightest. Man! It feels so good to loathe him!!

Things spiral out of control as her and Quinn's plans at freedom come to a screeching halt when their plan at over-throwing the tyrant Liet fails. There are a few surprises coming in here that I won't mention because I don't want to ruin it for the readers. But, OMG!!! I was so heartbroken, surprised, happy, and excited all at the same time!!

By the time I got to the end of Book 2, I was wishing for Book 3. Even though I know the story had pretty much come to an end, I really wanted to see where it went with Quinn and Krista. I have to say that the story lacked their romance and I was really looking forward to that. But, then again, who wants to get jiggy with it when there are a bunch of zombies around? OK, Ms. Sinclair, I see your point. Still, I was a little disappointed.

But, do not mistake me that BOTH of these books deserve 5 out of 5 stars!!! They are masterly written, expertly carried out, and seamlessly flowing. What a fantastic set of fingers on Ms. Sinclair!! I loved both of them and would recommend them to anyone who loves a good horror book but with a touch of sanity!!

[Anniek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Krista is waiting for the school bus when things go terribly wrong. She hurries home and convinces her parents that something horrible is happening and that they have to do something. When the horde of zombies are shuffling down the streets Krista and her parents hide in the attic. They know that it's not safe to stay in their house for much longer. They decide to go to a military outpost and hope that they'll find sanctuary within their walls. When a lot of people have the same idea the check-in station is swamped with the living who can't wait to be inside. Will there be safety in numbers or will this only make the situation more dangerous?

Krista and her parents have climbed up into an outlook post to stay there for the night. The walking dead can't get to them, which means they can sleep and recharge their batteries, so they'll be as ready as possible for the dangerous journey that lies ahead. Krista has a strong need to find out what happened. She isn't blinded by human politics and will fight with everything she's got to make the world a habitable place again. A lot of people who are living safely in a secured hotel are pretending that the world hasn't been taken over by zombies. When true colors are shown, will Krista have what it takes to make the right choices?

Krista is just a young teenage girl when her world falls apart. She has to grow up fast to stay alive. Krista is smart and quick and her instincts are flawless. She listens to what her gut is telling her and when something doesn't feel right Krista will look for alternatives. I loved how determined she is to live and survive. She goes out on runs to get much needed supplies and she has trained endlessly to get very skilled at dealing with the undead. Krista has lost a lot but she stays strong. She also manages to keep her humanity amongst all the horror. She's a true kickass heroine and I was rooting for her to succeed in building a new and secure life for herself and others.

Life After the Undead is a gripping and chilling story about a young girl's survival in a zombie infested world. The terrifying situations kept me on the edge of my seat. Krista is such a great character, which made it easy for me to connect to her and her story. I love anything zombie related, so I'll never turn down the chance to read a story about this subject. Pembroke Sinclair has a great mind and I love how she puts in unexpected twists and turns without being too obvious. If Life After the Undead would ever be made into a TV-series I would be glued to my screen. I can't wait to read more books by this amazing author.

[Inas · Rating 4 out of 5]

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I was glad I had Life After The Undeadas my first zombie novel ever. It has everything I could ever ask for in a novel featuring my favorite creatures in fictional worlds. It has a badass heroine. Like, really badass. Krista isn't easily intimidated, she stands up for herself, and I found myself liking her more and more each page. She's also smart and knows how to do her thing. My favorite line from her is exactly the same thing I would think of if I were in her shoes, or well.. me.

Guys? Who the hell cared about guys at this point in time?

I also liked how the zombies are portrayed here. When I was reading, I felt like I was the one running away and hiding from the undead. It was impossible to relax. The plot is fast-paced even though it is kinda slow at some points. I also liked how the threats aren't just the zombies roaming outside the fences, but also the people inside it. Being The Walking Dead loyal fan for years, I know for sure these kinds of things would happen in a real-life zombie apocalypse. Whether the inside threats are tyrants, cannibals, or simply crazy people.

There was something I particularly didn't like, though. The romance was insta-love and felt unreal. There's just no sparks between them. I felt like the book would be a whole lot better without any kind of romance altogether. It suddenly escalated from a-thrilling-zombie-apocalypse-novel to a-thrilling-zombie-apocalypse-novel-with cheesy-romance-in-it.

Overall, I thinkLife After The Undead is worth reading if you're looking for a zombie apocalypse story with an independent badass heroine and a totally believable world-building.

Thank you Booktrope Publishing for providing me an ARC!

My rating: ★ ★ ★ . 5

Reviewed by Inas

[Laura Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve become fascinated by zombies and apocalyptic stories. I love The Walking Dead and the show has helped me to visualize lots of scenes. From funny to gruesome.
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The author yanks you right into the apocalypse. Barely time to breath before they are everywhere.
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While I love the zombies, what really grabbed me in this story was the group dynamics. Ever seen the movie The Postman with Kevin Costner?
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Similar to the movie, you have opposite sides on the apocalypse. Those who want to help others and those who want to use others to save themselves. It comes as no surprise that some people choose to force their will on others, even to the point of killing.
.
Krista lost her parents to the zombies and was out there alone. When she does find a safe haven, she feels lucky, even though she’s assigned a job as a maid to one of the top governing families. Anything is better than being out there, right? And the zombies don’t like the humidity and heat of the south, so there aren’t many around.
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She can’t believe her luck when she finds she has a living relative. He’s an officer in the military, if you can call it that anymore, and she jumps at a chance to go with him and fight for her new world.
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This is where the dynamics come in. Either place might have been safe for a while. But with leaders who are looking out for themselves first, trying to lord it over everyone else, and practically relegating them to slaves, there’s bound to be some discontent. And sooner or later something has to give.
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There’s plenty of zombie action and intrigue to keep the story moving quickly. Genuine characters that you’ll like or loath. And a satisfying ending. Not that it’s really the end. The author wraps up this chapter, but from the conclusion, I figure there will be more stories to come. I sure hope so.

I received this book for my honest review.

[E.M. MacCallum · Rating 4 out of 5]

Krista is a bit of an outsider when it comes to the average, modern teenager. She’s not part of the “in-crowd”, but really, who is?

I found her character to be highly logical, even for a teen. When the end of the world blows up in everyone’s face and Krista is faced with a few harsh realities and her logical side proves to be a bigger asset to survival than she realizes.

As humans do, when the world goes crazy, they wanted to create order. They did that in a few different ways. There was a compound that acted like it’s own China where information was filtered and distributed as the governing Families saw fit and then there was the community at the Wall. This was a harsher life and was ruled by an equally cruel individual. Though this could be expected – it’s the apocalypse after all – this particular individual goes above and beyond morality. This is where Krista is given an opportunity to change everything – for everyone.

I found the action to be fast-paced and the drama to be heightened with each new chapter. Krista’s frame of mind is very mellow compared to those around her. This isn’t to say she doesn’t have her own moments of panic, but she’s a bit more centred, making her perfect leadership material – whether she likes it or not.

There’s a love interest which puts Krista’s logical world into a bit of a tailspin but it’s entertaining to watch it unfold amongst the blood, guts and gore. It isn’t the mushy kind of love-at-first-sight, making it seem organic instead of forced.

I’d recommend this to fans of strong female characters in extraordinary situations. Krista is worth reading about.

[Brigitte · Rating 4 out of 5]

Krista is waiting for the school bus one morning, when she witnesses one of her fellow students being savagely attacked by other students who are acting somewhat strangely.

Here begins the "zompocalypse" from Krista's point of view. Her father goes to investigate and when he doesn't return, her mother goes looking for him and Krista finds herself alone.

She comes across a group who agrees to take her on board once assured that she is not infected! They end up in a community run by five families who offer food and shelter in return for assisting with the chores but nothing is what it appears to be.

Liet, Krista's cousin is in command of an "army" and he runs another compound where he is trying to erect a fence to keep the zombies out. Again, nothing is as it appears. Then there is Quinn who just happens to offer assistance with the supply of provisions to Liet.

The cities are overun by the zombies and nowhere is safe. The other problem
is that the humans are not trustworthy, some using fear and lies to take control of the populace.

This story is fast paced and once I got past the initial gruesome attack,
I just wanted to keep reading. It's fast paced and action packed. I like Krista's compassion and determination to help those being subjected to harsh treatments. Quinn is a lovable and skilled character who is full of compassion too. I like the way his friendship with Krista develops and how they care and look out for each other and others!

This is only the second book, I have read about zombies and I would recommend to those who like hard to put down dystopia graphic novels.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

[†Reviews of a FearStreetZombie† · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why can't we rate more than 5 stars?! Oh my gosh this book was so awesome!! To be perfectly honest, my TBR list was pretty long and I wanted to save this book for closer to the bottom because I always try to save the best for last. But eventually I just HAD to have a peek. So I told myself "I'll just read the first page" ... about 10 chapters later, I knew I couldn't quite. Mrs. Pembroke is such a hella talented author! I've read a few of her other books and she has this amazing way of capturing the moment of things just right that through the whole book it just keeps you sucked in. "Life After The Undead" was... mind blowing. It had the perfect amount of everything! It felt like I was living the story.
Liet made my freaking skin crawl.




And Krista is just a freakin bada**.





I loved this book in every way. You couldn't make this book any more awesome. It exceeds the limit. Lol I would highly recommend this book.

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Krista is waiting for the school bus when she first notices something strange is going on. Why are people suddenly attacking each other? She soon discovers that this is the beginning of the end. The end of the world as we know it. With everything destroyed and the loss of her family, Krista must forge out on her own in order to survive.

First, she heads out to Florida with a group of survivors who have somehow managed to escape the madness. Something is missing though. Why doesn't anyone want to talk about how to control the zombie population? Is school really necessary now? How can she live out the rest of her life in this strange new world?

With the discovery of a distant relative, Krista heads out to North Platte. It is not as safe as Florida but at least they are striking back against the zombies. Here she meets the wonderful Quinn and his band of scavengers. Krista is starting to discover that some people are not being truthful with her. She will have some hard decisions to make in order to save herself and those most important to her. If you think you only had to worry about the zombies, think again.

This is a wonderful book from Pembroke Sinclair. I love the zombie storyline, but it is so much more than that. You have all of these wonderful characters that you sometimes forget that zombies have taken over. If you like zombies, you will definitely love this book. It has romance, murder and mystery. Do not pass this one up!

[Allies Opinions · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a zombie book that wasn’t all about the zombies. This book has so many other elements and I’ll be the first to say it was refreshing.

Zombie books are not usually my thing. I have a deep rooted fear of Zombies and reading about them is about as far as I go. I have watched a few movies on the subject but not many. They give me terrible nightmares. Even though I am frightened by zombies, the idea of their existence intrigues me.

There are far more elements to deal with in the aftermath of a zombie apocalypse than just surviving. Sadly, the zombies are not the only enemy. Often mankind will turn on each other in bouts of power hungry rage or to ration supplies in a only the strongest survive scenario.

This book had many of those elements. I also have to admit that I much prefer reading about the slow shambling zombies than the fast super human strength ones. Although if i am being honest, I think if zombies were to appear they wouldn’t be slow.

This book was enjoyable. The world building was great and believable. The characters have the right amount of depth to make the reader feel a connection. There is an adequate number of characters. The premise was well done and the pacing was perfect.

Superb book. I look forward to reading the next one.

[Sue Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life after the undead by Pembroke Sinclair.
Seventeen-year-old Krista must quickly figure out how she’s going to survive in the zombie-destroyed world. The one advantage humans have is that the zombies hate humid environments, so they’re migrating west to escape its deteriorating effects. The survivors plan to construct a wall at North Platte to keep the undead out, and Krista has come to Nebraska to start a new life.
A really enjoyable read. Krista was my favourite character. Can't wait for next part. 5*. Netgalley and booktrope.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. I really loved this book. This is the first zombie book that I have read and I have to say that I enjoyed the read. "Life After the Undead" is a YA book that took me by surprise. My son loves "The Walking Dead" and I am not a particular fan so I did not know what to expect. "Life After the Undead" starts off with 17-year-old Krista noticing things are a little hokey in her neighborhood while at the bus stop and runs home to tell her parents. They end up watching a neighbor get mauled by zombies and, after a night in their house, decide to take off and get a place where they would be safer. Her parents never make it, leaving Krista to fiend her way on her own. This book is fast-paced and you never know what is going to happen next. I feel the students in my high school classes will enjoy the book because it is not long nor drawn out. Something is always happening. Thank you for the chance to read this book that I liked. Hopefully a sequel is in the works.

[Crystal Hutchinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This YA Zombie book is a fantastic read. It reminds me a little of a less violent/gory "The Walking Dead" because it is more about people coping with loss and trying to work together. There is a tyrant who begins to rule the people with fear. Krista, the female protagonist is a 17 year old who falls for an 18 year old sweetheart, who still believes in treating people like people. It does have a bit of a cliffhanger ending, so I will be watching for the next book in this series.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Finally! A YA zombie horror novel that shines. Loved it and thought it was awesome from start to finish. Krista has to grow up fast and learn to take care of herself in a world where zombies are running rampant and the humans aren't much better. This had me on the edge of my seat and I immediately bought the next book in the series. I'm very picky about my zombie novels but this was dead on.

[Bernadette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really great zombie story. The characters were relatable and it had plenty of action to keep it riveting and suspenseful. I am really glad there is a second book so I can see where the storyline goes. If you like zombie stories, pick this one up and you'll be hooked too.

[Billy Buttons · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was entered and was a Bronze Medal Winner in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought:

Title: Life After the Undead
Author: Pembroke Sinclair
Star Rating: 5 Stars
Number of Readers: 31
Stats
Editing: 10/10
Writing Style: 10/10
Content: 10/10
Cover: 10/10
Of the 31 readers:
31 would read another book by this author.
29 thought the cover was good or excellent.
31 felt it was easy to follow.
31 would recommend this story to another reader to try.
27 felt the author’s best skill was ‘speech’ and ‘character’.

Readers’ Comments
‘A very enjoyable Z-romp. Calm in parts which helps the fighting/escaping to be even more interesting. Writing style was easy to follow. There were a lot of twists which surprised me – I a good way.’ Boy, 14
‘Scary in parts but not too scary. I think, from the ending, there might be another. I liked the characters the best, particularly Krista. She’s the sort of hero you want to get behind.’ Girl, aged 16
‘Interestingly, it’s not the monsters that’s the problem, it’s the other survivors! Excellent twist to this genre. Well written, perfect style for this genre and YA age group. Ending was well constructed and sets the story up well for a sequel. Start a little slow perhaps but the pace picks up after about page 25.’ Editor, aged 45
‘Anything with a zombie in it is good for me. This was really good too. A bit short. I read it in a day. But it was fun, exciting and plenty happens from start to finish. The cover is eye-catching too. I’d recommend it to anybody in my class.’ Boy, aged 15

‘A cool as a cucumber hero and a fest of flesh-eating monsters. All zombie fans must read this. A BRONZE MEDAL WINNER and highly recommended.’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards

[Alyssia Cooke · Rating 1 out of 5]

Genuinely found this generic and boring. The writing style isn't horrendous, but it's nothing special either. The world building adds nothing new to the whole zombie apocalypse momentum and in fact doesn't even fill holes within it's own world; you definitely turn by being bitten, so whatever it is can be passed through saliva and blood. However, you are not concerned at all about being covered in zombie gore? Minor issue there.

On top of this, I found just about everything about the world building and the characterisations to just be samey and tedios, Characters act in random ways for no obvious reason; there's no explanation as to why Liet is a tyrant for instance, he has no motive other than pique and he is therefore a flat and two dimensional character. Krista is no more fully fleshed out and she flits between being an scared teenager to wanting to go out on fighting missions.

There's no attempt to explain the zombies or to empathise with them; Krista blames the zombies for killing her parents and she wants to take her revenge. That's fine, but again it's a thin motive to base someone's entire actions and personality off. It would have been far more interesting to read had there been some form of thought to the fact that the zombies were once human and are also victims.

All in all, weak writing style, weak narrative arc, weak world-building and weak characterisations. Not impressed.

[Dane Cobain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer: Pembroke Sinclair is published by the Forsaken imprint of Booktrope, the same publisher which released my debut novella, No Rest for the Wicked.

Life After the Undead is a bit of an anomaly, because it subverts the zombie genre in ways that I didn’t expect. Sinclair has also penned a non-fiction book under her real name, Jessica Robinson, called Undead Obsessed: Finding Meaning in Zombies, and so you can be sure that she’s already done her homework. But what’s most notable to me is that this is almost post-post-apocalyptic – the zombie apocalypse has already happened, and Sinclair’s survivors have started to live with the situation. They have to.

So what happens after the zombie apocalypse happens? Well, seventeen-year-old Krista is about to find out, and she turns out to be surprisingly adaptive when it comes to dealing with the zombie hordes. In fact, in many ways, the zombies in this book aren’t much of a problem – it’s other survivors that you want to look out for, especially in Liet’s compound. But I don’t want to say any more than that, in case I ruin the story.

Overall, I thought the start could have been stronger, but once I got sucked into the story, I was hooked. Sinclair has also left room for a sequel, or perhaps even a series – it’ll be interesting to see how it pans out.

[Ruth B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imagine one day going to school and see people bitting others, imagine going home and everyone around you is suddenly acting weird and attacking each other. This is what happened to Krista, one day zombies became real and now she is learning to survive in this new reality.

I like the dynamic and rhythm of this book, it all starts quite fast and the first chapters are full of action and a sense of adrenaline. Krista is hit by this new situation and her first instinct is to survive. Two years later, we witness how survivors have managed to keep things "normal" or as normal as possible. When a distant relative of hers appears the book goes into adventure mode. The story is a bit bloody and zombies are a bit scary.

I love Krista, she is a simple and relatable character. Is easy to imagine what she is going through. We see her grow up and deal with different conflicts in a mature way. I like all the other characters as well.

The book has all the YA elements and the writing is really good. I also have to mention that the romance is perfect because it doesn't take much of the story, it's simple, sweet and not too cheesy.

The book has an open ending so I imagine there is a sequel, which I have to read.

*** I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.***

[Neil · Rating 2 out of 5]

Krista is angry at her parents for dying at the outset of a zombie apocalypse. Yes, I know, that ought to be a spoiler, but it isn't, because there is a "prologue" that spoils it anyway. Ignoring the pointless prologue, the writing is disappointing, the situations unrealistic, and I had a number of unanswered or unaddressed logistical questions remaining by the end.
I did finish it. There were some redeeming qualities. Krista is an annoying young adult, and maybe she learns her skills too quickly, but I ended up rooting for her anyway.
There were a couple of nuanced developments that I enjoyed, and I wanted to see Krista and her friends succeed, but in the end, I was just disappointed.

[Dennis · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a truly entertaining story this weaved. I really enjoyed reading it. Krista was a great heroine and Liet was a great villain as well. As zombie apocalypse stories go I'd rank this one up near the top of my list. It would make a truly wonderful TV show...HEY NETFLIX!!!! Highly recommend this one to all fans of the genre.

[Kavita Favelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Decent end-of-the world tale, nominally zombies though they feel almost incidental. Decent characters, and some interesting plot lines that explore how humanity might indeed react to an apocalyptic scenario, while avoiding some of the common cliches. Enjoyable.

[Daryl Schumann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome

Loved it. Very engaging with good story development. Realistic characters who have to deal with all sorts of stress and pressure, not just from the zombies, and don't always cope particularly well.

[Cheryl Viner · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the story but it dragged in places. Also be prepared for the abrupt ending. if you enjoy the ins and outs of rebuilding a civilization after an apocalypse this is the book for you .