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The Rising Dead
SECOND EDITION newly edited for Permuted Press!
Chaos breaks out when a virulent new strain of biological warfare is unwittingly released into the general population, causing all who are infected with it to turn into flesh hungry monsters driven by a hive mind that yearns to feed.
Gunner, a paranoid war veteran and the head of security at the Biotech lab where the designer virus was created, knew this day would eventually come. That's why he spent nearly every day since his return from Iraq preparing for the end of the world. It's up to him to save the residents of Thunderdome, a run down apartment complex in Northern Las Vegas.
Max hosts a live show as Asphyxia Stardust, a semi-nude cosplayer with a love of all things horror who is hosting the cities first ZombieCon. Travis is a computer nerd slash borderline stalker obsessed with zombies and Gemma, a misunderstood party girl everyone thinks is a tease. His roommate Parker is a star athlete gone bad who spends his days partying and chasing skirts. Holt is a stereotypical frat boy who finds new meaning in the apocalypse as a warrior for God with a crowbar sent to kill demons from the pit of hell. Together this unlikely band of college students and burnouts fight their way through a zombie horde in search of somewhere safe to take refuge, encountering every horror imaginable along the way.
Is this an inescapable global pandemic or can they find a safe zone outside of Sin City and away from the endless sea of rotting monsters with razor sharp teeth trying to infect and kill them?
Chaos breaks out when a virulent new strain of biological warfare is unwittingly released into the general population, causing all who are infected with it to turn into flesh hungry monsters driven by a hive mind that yearns to feed.
Gunner, a paranoid war veteran and the head of security at the Biotech lab where the designer virus was created, knew this day would eventually come. That's why he spent nearly every day since his return from Iraq preparing for the end of the world. It's up to him to save the residents of Thunderdome, a run down apartment complex in Northern Las Vegas.
Max hosts a live show as Asphyxia Stardust, a semi-nude cosplayer with a love of all things horror who is hosting the cities first ZombieCon. Travis is a computer nerd slash borderline stalker obsessed with zombies and Gemma, a misunderstood party girl everyone thinks is a tease. His roommate Parker is a star athlete gone bad who spends his days partying and chasing skirts. Holt is a stereotypical frat boy who finds new meaning in the apocalypse as a warrior for God with a crowbar sent to kill demons from the pit of hell. Together this unlikely band of college students and burnouts fight their way through a zombie horde in search of somewhere safe to take refuge, encountering every horror imaginable along the way.
Is this an inescapable global pandemic or can they find a safe zone outside of Sin City and away from the endless sea of rotting monsters with razor sharp teeth trying to infect and kill them?
247 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 9, 2012
39 people are currently reading
139 people want to read
About the author
Devan Sagliani
20 books95 followersDevan Sagliani was born and raised in Southern California and graduated from UCLA. He is the author of the Zombie Attack! series, The Rising Dead, A Thirst For Fire, and the UNDEAD L.A. series. Devan also wrote the original screenplay for the movie HVZ: Humans Versus Zombies. He writes a bimonthly horror column for Escapist Magazine called Dark Dreams.
Devan's fiction has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize and the Million Writers Award. In 2012 his debut novel Zombie Attack! Rise of the Horde won Best Zombie/Horror E-book on Goodreads. He is also an active member of the Horror Writer's Association.
He currently lives in Venice Beach, California with his wife.
Devan's fiction has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize and the Million Writers Award. In 2012 his debut novel Zombie Attack! Rise of the Horde won Best Zombie/Horror E-book on Goodreads. He is also an active member of the Horror Writer's Association.
He currently lives in Venice Beach, California with his wife.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
September 15, 2015
First things first, I have to talk about the performance and sound effects!! It was freaking awesome!! I started listening to what I thought would be a normal zombie book, but was so surprised to find this had sound effects (I didn't read any reviews prior to starting it). Now initially it distracted me because this is my first audio with sound effects, but that quickly went away and I found myself eagerly awaiting more. The sound the narrator used for the zombies was, without a doubt, truly frightening. Listening to them munch and moan was super creepy and scared me!!! The sound of the heartbeats made mine go faster and the extra effects like footsteps, bangs, knocks etc, just made the whole experience amazing.
Now even apart from the effects, the narrator himself was excellent. He truly knows how to bring the story alive. He gave each character their own tone and was able to ramp up the tension when needed. I started this and had to keep listening because he drew me right in. I will say though, that I didn't listen to this at night because the effects scared the daylights out of me!!! Bravo to the narrator for making this book that extra bit special.
Now onto the story itself. We are brought into the action straight away and its pretty much non stop the whole time. From the start of the outbreak, which is explained perfectly, to the last page we are brought on a terrifying journey with a cast of misfits, who you can't help but like. Each character has their own tale, yet each intertwine to make a well developed and action packed plot.
The setting was another positive for the story. This isn't the ritzy part of Las Vegas, this is the seedier side where even the cops wont venture. Since this is the down and dirty, bloody, gory kind of Zombie book, I think the setting was perfect!!
In all this was an amazing experience. The sound effects and narrator made this audio a must listen. No matter if you are a hard core Zombie enthusiast or just someone looking for a great listen, this is something you need to check out. The world the author has created is bleak and deadly yet you can't help but want to dive right in. This is my first book by this author but it won't be my last. He really captured my attention with his writing and ability to weave a darkly delicious story. Can't wait for the next one because that ending was killer, literally ;)
*I received a copy of this in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*
Now even apart from the effects, the narrator himself was excellent. He truly knows how to bring the story alive. He gave each character their own tone and was able to ramp up the tension when needed. I started this and had to keep listening because he drew me right in. I will say though, that I didn't listen to this at night because the effects scared the daylights out of me!!! Bravo to the narrator for making this book that extra bit special.
Now onto the story itself. We are brought into the action straight away and its pretty much non stop the whole time. From the start of the outbreak, which is explained perfectly, to the last page we are brought on a terrifying journey with a cast of misfits, who you can't help but like. Each character has their own tale, yet each intertwine to make a well developed and action packed plot.
The setting was another positive for the story. This isn't the ritzy part of Las Vegas, this is the seedier side where even the cops wont venture. Since this is the down and dirty, bloody, gory kind of Zombie book, I think the setting was perfect!!
In all this was an amazing experience. The sound effects and narrator made this audio a must listen. No matter if you are a hard core Zombie enthusiast or just someone looking for a great listen, this is something you need to check out. The world the author has created is bleak and deadly yet you can't help but want to dive right in. This is my first book by this author but it won't be my last. He really captured my attention with his writing and ability to weave a darkly delicious story. Can't wait for the next one because that ending was killer, literally ;)
*I received a copy of this in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*
March 5, 2014
Max, the unapproachable vlogger known as Asphyxia Stardust, has plans to host Vegas's first zombie walk. But Zymetech Biolabs decided to jump the gun and have a zombie walk Vegas won't forget. As the number of undead begin to multiply, Gunner, head security for Zymetech and war veteran, is forced back into action. Authorities write the incident off as an attempted rape, despite her corroborating Gunners account of the events. The problem is...the bodies of those killed in the attack aren't there anymore. A cover up is afoot!
The story is similar to many of those in the zombie genre. An infection, engineered by man, is used against it's creator. The infection spreads, breeding ravenous undead, causing those infected to turn to mindless flesh eaters infecting everyone they bite. The real originality is in the unique characters and setting, which is where Sagliani's books excel. The Rising Dead is set in Las Vegas, but not the Overdone Vegas strip. Instead it takes place on the less glamorous side of Vegas. A run-down apartment complex referred to as 'Thunderdome', a place cops won't even go, is home to a cast of misfits fighting for survival. Gunner, war vet and conspiracy theorist suffering from PTSD is prepared for anything and leads Max and the other Thunderdome survivors to safety...well, tries to at least.
There is no shortage of characters in The Rising Dead, which can sometimes overwhelm readers. As different as each character is, they blend together well to deliver an engaging story. I found secondary character Holt to be quite an enigma. He's clearly lost it and embarks on a killing spree of undead proportion. Typical frat boy turns agent of God, all the while managing to stay drunk as a skunk. Holt's drunken escapades inject some light comedy into an intense story.
The only area I found challenging was the political subplot weaved within. There was either too little or too much story devoted to it. To qualify this statement, there are many things left unanswered for the amount of detail provided. The story could have been just as good had much of the conspiracy been left out, and it could have been enhanced had there been more on this arc. I was pleased to see the ending leave the door open for a sequel in such a way that lets readers know their questions will be answered. Also, the book's synopsis mentions a hive mind. I don't read the synopsis for zombie books until I've finished the book, and thinking back, I didn't get the feeling of a hive mind. Though there were some bits of intrigue that could have been related; some thought they saw the undead smile at them in recognition.
The Rising Dead appeals to a broad audience. The dialogue and character's age group gives it a young adult feel, while the content is graphic and earns this title a mature content warning. Even with the bits that could be improved on, great plot, quirky characters, and non-stop action makes The Rising Dead my favorite Sagliani title to date.
Sidenote: I now know Devan's dirty little secret...he's a Jersey Shore fan! This is his second book that makes a reference to the popular MTV show. Luckily, he redeems himself with a great Breakfast Club reference.
The story is similar to many of those in the zombie genre. An infection, engineered by man, is used against it's creator. The infection spreads, breeding ravenous undead, causing those infected to turn to mindless flesh eaters infecting everyone they bite. The real originality is in the unique characters and setting, which is where Sagliani's books excel. The Rising Dead is set in Las Vegas, but not the Overdone Vegas strip. Instead it takes place on the less glamorous side of Vegas. A run-down apartment complex referred to as 'Thunderdome', a place cops won't even go, is home to a cast of misfits fighting for survival. Gunner, war vet and conspiracy theorist suffering from PTSD is prepared for anything and leads Max and the other Thunderdome survivors to safety...well, tries to at least.
There is no shortage of characters in The Rising Dead, which can sometimes overwhelm readers. As different as each character is, they blend together well to deliver an engaging story. I found secondary character Holt to be quite an enigma. He's clearly lost it and embarks on a killing spree of undead proportion. Typical frat boy turns agent of God, all the while managing to stay drunk as a skunk. Holt's drunken escapades inject some light comedy into an intense story.
The only area I found challenging was the political subplot weaved within. There was either too little or too much story devoted to it. To qualify this statement, there are many things left unanswered for the amount of detail provided. The story could have been just as good had much of the conspiracy been left out, and it could have been enhanced had there been more on this arc. I was pleased to see the ending leave the door open for a sequel in such a way that lets readers know their questions will be answered. Also, the book's synopsis mentions a hive mind. I don't read the synopsis for zombie books until I've finished the book, and thinking back, I didn't get the feeling of a hive mind. Though there were some bits of intrigue that could have been related; some thought they saw the undead smile at them in recognition.
The Rising Dead appeals to a broad audience. The dialogue and character's age group gives it a young adult feel, while the content is graphic and earns this title a mature content warning. Even with the bits that could be improved on, great plot, quirky characters, and non-stop action makes The Rising Dead my favorite Sagliani title to date.
Sidenote: I now know Devan's dirty little secret...he's a Jersey Shore fan! This is his second book that makes a reference to the popular MTV show. Luckily, he redeems himself with a great Breakfast Club reference.
October 23, 2012
Oh my god! Zombies Everywhere!! In all seriousness, Devan Sagliani's THE RISING DEAD is pretty solid zombie fiction. Interesting characters and intense action sequences. I really enjoyed the book!
I'm pretty new to Zombie stories in general, but it with the prevelance of horror titles which feature zombies (AMC's Walking Dead, World War Z, the Plant vs. Zombies iPhone app, etc. I just watched Disney's Hocus Pocus. Even that movie has a Zombie in it.) it is pretty hard to know absolutely nothing about Zombies. Nevertheless, Sagliani puts you through the paces. He explains the breakdown of society, and how the all of these scary zombies came to be. But he doesn't waste too much time on it. He gets you into the action quickly and constantly presents new challenges for his protagonists. He also leaves the story open-ended enough that there could plausibly be a sequel, or it might be part of a series (I know he has another book out Zombie Attack! which is part of a trilogy. I'm not sure if this is supposed to be part of that or not.) but at the very least, we are left with the hope that we will get to see more of this new, post-apocolyptic world.
Overall, I greatly enjoyed THE RISING DEAD. It is only 99 cents, and for that price, I believe it answered all the calls of duty. It perhaps would benefit from one more round of Editorial. I found quite a few mistakes and I wasn't consciously looking for them. But, other than that, it was a lot of fun to read. I'll definitely be watching Devan Sagliani to see what he comes up with next.
I'm pretty new to Zombie stories in general, but it with the prevelance of horror titles which feature zombies (AMC's Walking Dead, World War Z, the Plant vs. Zombies iPhone app, etc. I just watched Disney's Hocus Pocus. Even that movie has a Zombie in it.) it is pretty hard to know absolutely nothing about Zombies. Nevertheless, Sagliani puts you through the paces. He explains the breakdown of society, and how the all of these scary zombies came to be. But he doesn't waste too much time on it. He gets you into the action quickly and constantly presents new challenges for his protagonists. He also leaves the story open-ended enough that there could plausibly be a sequel, or it might be part of a series (I know he has another book out Zombie Attack! which is part of a trilogy. I'm not sure if this is supposed to be part of that or not.) but at the very least, we are left with the hope that we will get to see more of this new, post-apocolyptic world.
Overall, I greatly enjoyed THE RISING DEAD. It is only 99 cents, and for that price, I believe it answered all the calls of duty. It perhaps would benefit from one more round of Editorial. I found quite a few mistakes and I wasn't consciously looking for them. But, other than that, it was a lot of fun to read. I'll definitely be watching Devan Sagliani to see what he comes up with next.
December 13, 2018
I like to indulge in a good old zombie book from time to time, and I was fresh out of zombies (no pun intended), so I decided to give this book a try. After all, it had a lot of glowing review on both Amazon and Goodreads… I don't know why.
Seriously, the story is cookie cutter zombie outbreak: evil corporation plays with viruses, but something goes wrong and the strain escapes. Cue brain eating zombies everywhere. Don't get me wrong. I don't mind a predictable story in the zombie-verse. After all, there are only so many ways to make a brain eating undead.
The story can be predictable as long as the characters living (or dying) in these events are interesting, fleshed out and likeable (or hateable) enough for me to want to see who meets their gruesome end and who survives despite all odds. Unfortunately, this book has nothing of the sort. All characters are cardboard cutouts with about as much personality. You can just put labels on them and be done with it: the shy geek, the college baseball jock, the slutty partying girl, the meek girl who gets eaten first, the grizzled paranoid war veteran, etc. They are all essentially faceless and characterless, and I didn't feel any connections to any of them. Oh, someone else got eaten by zombies? Good for them!
And to add insult to injury, the story is riddled with inconsistencies and plot holes. For example, the patient zero gets infected by just spilling some of the virus and inhaling it because he didn't have his mask on. So then the pathogen is airborne, right?.. Nope. After that first time, ALL other victims are infected through direct contact only - you get bitten, you turn. So why would the virus suddenly change its MO? Why mention it in the first place? It makes no sense. Patient Zero could have been bitten by a test animal, had a fresh papercut and a hole in his gloves, etc. Possibilities are endless…
The final nail on the coffin for me was the lack of editing. And I'm not talking about spelling and grammar here. I can deal with that if the story is worth it. I'm talking about the constant "head hopping" in the middle of scenes. We would listen to the POV of one character, then suddenly hop into the head of another for 2-3 lines, then go back to the first character. It happened so many times it gave me whiplash. You can write a book with different points of views, but be consistent throughout your scenes!
So to summarize, I finished the book, because it was a slow day and I was particularly bored. But I will not give my money to read the sequel. If I want good fast zombies, excellent action scenes, and characters I can actually care about and be sad when they get bitten, I'll rewatch Train to Bussan.
Seriously, the story is cookie cutter zombie outbreak: evil corporation plays with viruses, but something goes wrong and the strain escapes. Cue brain eating zombies everywhere. Don't get me wrong. I don't mind a predictable story in the zombie-verse. After all, there are only so many ways to make a brain eating undead.
The story can be predictable as long as the characters living (or dying) in these events are interesting, fleshed out and likeable (or hateable) enough for me to want to see who meets their gruesome end and who survives despite all odds. Unfortunately, this book has nothing of the sort. All characters are cardboard cutouts with about as much personality. You can just put labels on them and be done with it: the shy geek, the college baseball jock, the slutty partying girl, the meek girl who gets eaten first, the grizzled paranoid war veteran, etc. They are all essentially faceless and characterless, and I didn't feel any connections to any of them. Oh, someone else got eaten by zombies? Good for them!
And to add insult to injury, the story is riddled with inconsistencies and plot holes. For example, the patient zero gets infected by just spilling some of the virus and inhaling it because he didn't have his mask on. So then the pathogen is airborne, right?.. Nope. After that first time, ALL other victims are infected through direct contact only - you get bitten, you turn. So why would the virus suddenly change its MO? Why mention it in the first place? It makes no sense. Patient Zero could have been bitten by a test animal, had a fresh papercut and a hole in his gloves, etc. Possibilities are endless…
The final nail on the coffin for me was the lack of editing. And I'm not talking about spelling and grammar here. I can deal with that if the story is worth it. I'm talking about the constant "head hopping" in the middle of scenes. We would listen to the POV of one character, then suddenly hop into the head of another for 2-3 lines, then go back to the first character. It happened so many times it gave me whiplash. You can write a book with different points of views, but be consistent throughout your scenes!
So to summarize, I finished the book, because it was a slow day and I was particularly bored. But I will not give my money to read the sequel. If I want good fast zombies, excellent action scenes, and characters I can actually care about and be sad when they get bitten, I'll rewatch Train to Bussan.
December 17, 2018
I liked the way this book started. But that’s about it.
Characters were unbelievable. They fell into stereotypes so damn easily. And the switch between some of the characters, really? I rolled my eyes. Hard. Storyline was meh. Basically a generic storyline.
Characters were unbelievable. They fell into stereotypes so damn easily. And the switch between some of the characters, really? I rolled my eyes. Hard. Storyline was meh. Basically a generic storyline.
September 11, 2015
ABR's original The Rising Dead audiobook review and many others can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.
Here we have another zombie apocalypse story from Devan Sagliani. I have listened to the two published before this one and really enjoyed them. I was expecting more of the same young adult style from him here. To my surprise and joy he did not go that route.
The first couple of chapters focused on a couple on vacation somewhere near the ocean, sorry I can’t remember if it was said where or not. This part was absolutely terrifying because of the addition of some of the creepiest sound effects I have ever heard. Seriously, I couldn’t focus on anything else other than the story. At times I thought it was my heart that I was hearing due to the stress I was under.
Sadly this was, without a doubt, the best part of the whole audiobook. I found the rest to be cluttered with too many characters and too much switching around for me to be able to keep track of everything that was happening. I kept forgetting key character details.
All in all this was an enjoyable romp through the shoot chase run zombie landscape. All the blood, gore and violence you could want. Survivalists, college kids, addicts, and other character types. With a government conspiracy thrown in for good measure. I will likely listen to the next book in the series because I am a fan of Saglini’s work. You will be pleased if you are a fan of the zombie genre.
Michael Pauley went above an beyond with his performance an production of The Rising Dead. This is something akin to a GraphicAudio production because of all of the sound effects and characterizations. Normally I say that extras, like sound effects, are a distraction. I only say this because, unless they are from the aforementioned GraphicAudio, they tend to be done so poorly. I am happy to say Pauly hit this one out of the park. He was able to add so much terror to scenes that would have been scary but they wouldn’t have kept me up at night like this did. I like to listen to audiobooks, instead of reading, to help me fall asleep. There were times that Pauly got me thinking that the footsteps and groans were coming from my house, making my heart race and sweat flowing as I hide under the covers waiting for it all to go away. I will be eagerly awaiting more productions like this from Pauly. Even though there was at least one sentence that was repeated, it wasn’t Pauly repeating himself, it was clearly a post production or editing snafu.
Audiobook provided for review by the author.
Here we have another zombie apocalypse story from Devan Sagliani. I have listened to the two published before this one and really enjoyed them. I was expecting more of the same young adult style from him here. To my surprise and joy he did not go that route.
The first couple of chapters focused on a couple on vacation somewhere near the ocean, sorry I can’t remember if it was said where or not. This part was absolutely terrifying because of the addition of some of the creepiest sound effects I have ever heard. Seriously, I couldn’t focus on anything else other than the story. At times I thought it was my heart that I was hearing due to the stress I was under.
Sadly this was, without a doubt, the best part of the whole audiobook. I found the rest to be cluttered with too many characters and too much switching around for me to be able to keep track of everything that was happening. I kept forgetting key character details.
All in all this was an enjoyable romp through the shoot chase run zombie landscape. All the blood, gore and violence you could want. Survivalists, college kids, addicts, and other character types. With a government conspiracy thrown in for good measure. I will likely listen to the next book in the series because I am a fan of Saglini’s work. You will be pleased if you are a fan of the zombie genre.
Michael Pauley went above an beyond with his performance an production of The Rising Dead. This is something akin to a GraphicAudio production because of all of the sound effects and characterizations. Normally I say that extras, like sound effects, are a distraction. I only say this because, unless they are from the aforementioned GraphicAudio, they tend to be done so poorly. I am happy to say Pauly hit this one out of the park. He was able to add so much terror to scenes that would have been scary but they wouldn’t have kept me up at night like this did. I like to listen to audiobooks, instead of reading, to help me fall asleep. There were times that Pauly got me thinking that the footsteps and groans were coming from my house, making my heart race and sweat flowing as I hide under the covers waiting for it all to go away. I will be eagerly awaiting more productions like this from Pauly. Even though there was at least one sentence that was repeated, it wasn’t Pauly repeating himself, it was clearly a post production or editing snafu.
Audiobook provided for review by the author.
September 1, 2015
Great zombie thrill ride!
A zombie thrill ride with plenty of unexpected twists and turns! It's packed with great characters and a real-world feel for how a zombie apocalypse could be triggered. I thoroughly enjoyed this tale.
A zombie thrill ride with plenty of unexpected twists and turns! It's packed with great characters and a real-world feel for how a zombie apocalypse could be triggered. I thoroughly enjoyed this tale.
February 11, 2013
Excellent book! I loved it and highly recommend zombie and non zombie fans to read this. What a talented author :)
July 28, 2017
Great read!!
Fast paced. Characters you love and characters you love to hate. Then there are the characters that in the beginning, you think that you'll hate, but end up rooting for them to survive. Definitely keeps you guessing and desperately wanting to know what's going to happen next! Thank you Mr. Galliano for this great read and keep them coming...please!
Fast paced. Characters you love and characters you love to hate. Then there are the characters that in the beginning, you think that you'll hate, but end up rooting for them to survive. Definitely keeps you guessing and desperately wanting to know what's going to happen next! Thank you Mr. Galliano for this great read and keep them coming...please!
December 16, 2018
THE RISING DEAD
A good fast read. At the ending I was left with a few unsatisfied answers. Entertaining yes, read it again? Maybe. This is a take to the Dr.'s to read book. Pick up and read some pages. Later you can pick up where you left off without having a problem getting back into the story.
A good fast read. At the ending I was left with a few unsatisfied answers. Entertaining yes, read it again? Maybe. This is a take to the Dr.'s to read book. Pick up and read some pages. Later you can pick up where you left off without having a problem getting back into the story.
June 6, 2018
Pretty good book. Had a few funny moments. Point of view from drunken college kids, so it kept me engaged for a while.
March 13, 2016
I've mentioned how big of a fan I am of Devan Sagliani's work. As the author of Zombies Attack!, Undead L.A., and Saint Death, he's developed quite the collection of horror stories which are usually built around a charismatic collection of leads menaced by the undead. Devan's work takes time to develop its leads and, thus, when monsters attack you actually care about who is going to die.
The Rising Dead is familiar territory for Devan, being about a group of college-age students caught in the middle of a zombie apocalypse. Still, I can honestly say it's the book I was most looking forward to from his collection since it was a made-for-adults zombie novel set in one of the best cities for the undead to rise in: Las Vegas.
Interestingly, despite being set in the city of consumerism and greed, Devan doesn't focus on the Strip. Instead, he sets the majority of the book in a run-down housing development called the Thunderdome. Here, poor students and people who can't afford housing elsewhere choose to make their homes. Here, a web cam celebrity, a fraternity boy jock, a paranoid Gulf War veteran, a nerd, and a cheerleader are our "meat" for the apocalypse.
Interestingly, like The Cabin in the Woods, Devan Sagliani plays with the archetypes which are so familiar to horror movies and fiction. Max as the beautiful rebellious Goth girl would, normally, be the star while Gemma the cheerleader would be the bitchy one. The two would be at each others' throats or nothing more than love-interests. In fact, Gemma takes center stage during much of the story and Max's attitude problems dissolve in the face of tragedy. Both of them also serve as proactive characters who do every bit as much as their male counterparts.
Indeed, all of the characters are more than just the sum of their shorthand descriptions and feel like authentic people at the end of the story. Their likability makes the threat of zombies against them actually menacing as you don't want to see any of them become monster-chow. I confess to a certain amount of bias, though, as Goth girls in horror fiction are a favorite of mine so I especially wanted to see Max make it through. Even Parker, who is something of a jerkass, has his sympathetic qualities as his successful athlete facade hides a mass of insecurities.
I wasn't overly impressed with the set-up for the apocalypse with a renegade pharmaceutical company that has ties to the military being overused as an origin. You might as well have made the Umbrella Corporation or Weyland-Yutani at fault. Still, it keeps the heroes from running directly to the military and provides a little spice to the climax of the book. The ending took me by surprise and I have to give props to Devan for doing something unexpected with the finale.
Las Vegas is a trifle underused in this book, lacking a lot of what I was expecting from the setting there but there's still some very fund tidbits toward the end like a survival shelter in an Elvis-themed wedding chapel. I am probably spoiled by Dead Rising 2 but if we ever see a sequel, I hope we get to see zombies wandering around a casino with the heroes fighting them off to the tune of malfunctioning slot machines.
In conclusion, I think this is probably Devan Sagliani’s best book yet. The cast is exceptionally strong and drowns out any of the book’s minor flaws. The ending has the potential for a sequel but if the author wishes to end it on this note, then it is a perfectly satisfying if depressing one. Zombie fans may find the book to be a bit too similar to other works about groups of survivors trying to get to safety while surrounded by the hungry dead but you don’t buy a Western to read about cowboys on the sea.
10/10
The Rising Dead is familiar territory for Devan, being about a group of college-age students caught in the middle of a zombie apocalypse. Still, I can honestly say it's the book I was most looking forward to from his collection since it was a made-for-adults zombie novel set in one of the best cities for the undead to rise in: Las Vegas.
Interestingly, despite being set in the city of consumerism and greed, Devan doesn't focus on the Strip. Instead, he sets the majority of the book in a run-down housing development called the Thunderdome. Here, poor students and people who can't afford housing elsewhere choose to make their homes. Here, a web cam celebrity, a fraternity boy jock, a paranoid Gulf War veteran, a nerd, and a cheerleader are our "meat" for the apocalypse.
Interestingly, like The Cabin in the Woods, Devan Sagliani plays with the archetypes which are so familiar to horror movies and fiction. Max as the beautiful rebellious Goth girl would, normally, be the star while Gemma the cheerleader would be the bitchy one. The two would be at each others' throats or nothing more than love-interests. In fact, Gemma takes center stage during much of the story and Max's attitude problems dissolve in the face of tragedy. Both of them also serve as proactive characters who do every bit as much as their male counterparts.
Indeed, all of the characters are more than just the sum of their shorthand descriptions and feel like authentic people at the end of the story. Their likability makes the threat of zombies against them actually menacing as you don't want to see any of them become monster-chow. I confess to a certain amount of bias, though, as Goth girls in horror fiction are a favorite of mine so I especially wanted to see Max make it through. Even Parker, who is something of a jerkass, has his sympathetic qualities as his successful athlete facade hides a mass of insecurities.
I wasn't overly impressed with the set-up for the apocalypse with a renegade pharmaceutical company that has ties to the military being overused as an origin. You might as well have made the Umbrella Corporation or Weyland-Yutani at fault. Still, it keeps the heroes from running directly to the military and provides a little spice to the climax of the book. The ending took me by surprise and I have to give props to Devan for doing something unexpected with the finale.
Las Vegas is a trifle underused in this book, lacking a lot of what I was expecting from the setting there but there's still some very fund tidbits toward the end like a survival shelter in an Elvis-themed wedding chapel. I am probably spoiled by Dead Rising 2 but if we ever see a sequel, I hope we get to see zombies wandering around a casino with the heroes fighting them off to the tune of malfunctioning slot machines.
In conclusion, I think this is probably Devan Sagliani’s best book yet. The cast is exceptionally strong and drowns out any of the book’s minor flaws. The ending has the potential for a sequel but if the author wishes to end it on this note, then it is a perfectly satisfying if depressing one. Zombie fans may find the book to be a bit too similar to other works about groups of survivors trying to get to safety while surrounded by the hungry dead but you don’t buy a Western to read about cowboys on the sea.
10/10
October 24, 2015
I received a free copy of the audiobook from the author for an honest review.
I am pretty new to the whole zombie genre but, somehow, I’ve become hooked. I also like to get audiobooks so that I can listen to them instead of the radio in the car, so when Devan Sagliani asked me to review his audiobook, I jumped at the chance.
A lot of The Rising Dead is the typical zombie fighting, etc., but this one was a little gorier than the previous audiobooks I’ve listened to. Luckily, I’ve been in the process of watching The Walking Dead marathon so it didn’t bother me as much as it could have. How sad is it that we get used to all that gore and violence?
The Rising Dead just covers the very beginning of the zombie apocalypse, and in Vegas of all places. I’ve been there a few times for conferences and I thought how scary it would to be there when it happened. I couldn’t decide if I liked the end of the book or not. It’s not your typical ending but that kind of intrigued me.
The primary characters are mostly college kids except for Gunner, who is a security guard and a veteran. All the kids have always made fun of him because he’s actually prepared, he hopes, for just such a situation. There wasn’t much depth to the characters so at least I didn’t cry when one of them was killed.
The story was full of action and, even with so many characters, it was easy to follow which I always think is a big accomplishment by an author. It’s so difficult to get into a book when you have to keep going back to figure out who is who. The narrator also did a good job at distinguishing between the different voices enough so that I could usually tell who was speaking.
If you like zombies, you should read this book, but be warned: you may not like the ending.
I am pretty new to the whole zombie genre but, somehow, I’ve become hooked. I also like to get audiobooks so that I can listen to them instead of the radio in the car, so when Devan Sagliani asked me to review his audiobook, I jumped at the chance.
A lot of The Rising Dead is the typical zombie fighting, etc., but this one was a little gorier than the previous audiobooks I’ve listened to. Luckily, I’ve been in the process of watching The Walking Dead marathon so it didn’t bother me as much as it could have. How sad is it that we get used to all that gore and violence?
The Rising Dead just covers the very beginning of the zombie apocalypse, and in Vegas of all places. I’ve been there a few times for conferences and I thought how scary it would to be there when it happened. I couldn’t decide if I liked the end of the book or not. It’s not your typical ending but that kind of intrigued me.
The primary characters are mostly college kids except for Gunner, who is a security guard and a veteran. All the kids have always made fun of him because he’s actually prepared, he hopes, for just such a situation. There wasn’t much depth to the characters so at least I didn’t cry when one of them was killed.
The story was full of action and, even with so many characters, it was easy to follow which I always think is a big accomplishment by an author. It’s so difficult to get into a book when you have to keep going back to figure out who is who. The narrator also did a good job at distinguishing between the different voices enough so that I could usually tell who was speaking.
If you like zombies, you should read this book, but be warned: you may not like the ending.
August 31, 2015
I'd heard of this author before, and heard good things but this was my first chance to get to experience some of his work. So I was excited to hear that this book was on audible. I was immediately drawn in, and pleasantly surprised to be engrossed so early on. It's rare for me that happens.
What I liked about his spin on the zombie genre is that it's not only from the living's perspective, but from the newly infected's perspective as well. I found that to a new and interesting take on it. And it scared the bejeezus out of me at the same time. It's deliciously dark.
I didn't like everyone featured in the main cast of characters, but I knew all of them well. Sagliani does a great job of character development. And if you were mad at someone, well, you knew that was an emotion the author carefully orchestrated the reader/listener to feel.
For whatever reason, I generally favor female authors and female narrators. But this was just as good on the writing and narrating part as I have come to expect from some of my favorite authors. I really, really liked it. I liked the little background you'd hear from time to time, almost making it like an audio drama.
There is never a dull moment here, and when I tried to guess what was coming next I was usually wrong.
Just good, clean, zombie fun.
What I liked about his spin on the zombie genre is that it's not only from the living's perspective, but from the newly infected's perspective as well. I found that to a new and interesting take on it. And it scared the bejeezus out of me at the same time. It's deliciously dark.
I didn't like everyone featured in the main cast of characters, but I knew all of them well. Sagliani does a great job of character development. And if you were mad at someone, well, you knew that was an emotion the author carefully orchestrated the reader/listener to feel.
For whatever reason, I generally favor female authors and female narrators. But this was just as good on the writing and narrating part as I have come to expect from some of my favorite authors. I really, really liked it. I liked the little background you'd hear from time to time, almost making it like an audio drama.
There is never a dull moment here, and when I tried to guess what was coming next I was usually wrong.
Just good, clean, zombie fun.
December 18, 2016
Random people from Las Vegas from spring break meet up with each other to find out that there has been a virus outbreak and everyone is turning into zombies. They try to hold them off as much as that could by themselves. But as they are making their way across the United States trying to find safety. But end up saving a war veterans life while hes trying to deliver some message to a science lab that can maybe fix the virus. The rest of the book they are trying to get to Washington DC to the science lab. (The book caries on to the next one in the series, which I haven't read yet).
I loved the book. Only because I love zombie and action books. This book would be perfect for people who like to read that type of genre. It even has a little bit of mystery in there too which I like. But it had a lot of dialogue which I love in a book because it gets boring o he whole book has hardly any dialogue between the characters.
I would definitely recommend this book. I would preferably recommend it to young adult readers who love action and zombies. The story and main idea is well developed throughout the story and so much dialogue and some mystery in there too. Overall it was a well thought of book and I know there are tones of zombie books out there but this one was different because of the amount of dialogue and action throughout the book really tied it together.
I loved the book. Only because I love zombie and action books. This book would be perfect for people who like to read that type of genre. It even has a little bit of mystery in there too which I like. But it had a lot of dialogue which I love in a book because it gets boring o he whole book has hardly any dialogue between the characters.
I would definitely recommend this book. I would preferably recommend it to young adult readers who love action and zombies. The story and main idea is well developed throughout the story and so much dialogue and some mystery in there too. Overall it was a well thought of book and I know there are tones of zombie books out there but this one was different because of the amount of dialogue and action throughout the book really tied it together.
July 27, 2016
The Rising Dead
The first thing that I am going to say is that I really hope that this story is not finished. I loved the story and all the characters but I need to hear more about Travis and Gemma,. At the beginning of our story we have a Japanese scientist who unbeknownst to him ,has created a biological weapon. When he contacts the virus and starts spreading it , that is the beginning of the end. Gunner, who is head of security at the lab, makes it out and decides to look for other survivors. He fines a group of college kids and helps them to escape. After a rough trip through Las Vegas, our surviving group is slowly losing its members. Ok if you want to know any more, then read the book. I recommend it highly.
The first thing that I am going to say is that I really hope that this story is not finished. I loved the story and all the characters but I need to hear more about Travis and Gemma,. At the beginning of our story we have a Japanese scientist who unbeknownst to him ,has created a biological weapon. When he contacts the virus and starts spreading it , that is the beginning of the end. Gunner, who is head of security at the lab, makes it out and decides to look for other survivors. He fines a group of college kids and helps them to escape. After a rough trip through Las Vegas, our surviving group is slowly losing its members. Ok if you want to know any more, then read the book. I recommend it highly.
December 8, 2012
Set in Vegas, a deadly virus starts infecting locals and soon the streets are overrun with the infected. A few survivor types look for an escape, including a paranoid ex-soldier and a few college students.
I thoroughly enjoyed this horror novel and couldn't put it down - once I got to the fifth chapter I was completely hooked. The characters were engaging, the story was entertaining and the ending unexpected. What more can you really ask for?
I have to say Max was my favorite character and I felt like she could have been the star of her own novel! Looking forward to more from this author.
I thoroughly enjoyed this horror novel and couldn't put it down - once I got to the fifth chapter I was completely hooked. The characters were engaging, the story was entertaining and the ending unexpected. What more can you really ask for?
I have to say Max was my favorite character and I felt like she could have been the star of her own novel! Looking forward to more from this author.
November 9, 2012
Very enjoyable high paced zombie apocalypse novel, full of action gory at times, with good easy to follow plot with and interesting character base! Usual bio virus released, turns folk into blood thirsty zombies. The book follows a group who must continually fight for there lives from one death trap to the next! I liked the ending very much, but I won't spoil it for anybody, I'd recommend to any horror fan or apocalypse fan enjoyable read.
November 13, 2012
As an author of a zombie book, I really enjoyed the Rising Dead by Devan Sagliani. The description was easy to follow—from the outbreak—through the action—all the way to the end. You feel for each individual character. You'll even find yourself picking out a favorite. I see this book as an original piece of literature and look forward to reading more form this author. For the price, you can't go wrong with this book. I recommend the Rising Dead to anyone that likes to read about zombies.
December 14, 2012
It started off seemingly rushed, and contained soany characters that it was confusing and tough to continue reading. However once their stories and lives combined it was genuinely enjoyable and fast paced.
The ending was lacking and dull also unbelievable.
other than that it wad enjoyable with great attention to detail. a great novel
The ending was lacking and dull also unbelievable.
other than that it wad enjoyable with great attention to detail. a great novel
February 21, 2016
Starts off slow, but grabs you.
This book starts off quite slowly, building up through the first few chapters, then it becomes much more exciting and action-packed. That is where it grabs you and keeps you enthralled. Likeable characters and an interesting storyline, with an ending that makes you want to find out what comes next.
This book starts off quite slowly, building up through the first few chapters, then it becomes much more exciting and action-packed. That is where it grabs you and keeps you enthralled. Likeable characters and an interesting storyline, with an ending that makes you want to find out what comes next.
December 8, 2015
A more than usual interesting zombie tale due to the sound effects added to the recording. I've experienced sound effects in some books before with less than helpful results, not so with this effort though. The effects were quite good and a bit scary to boot. The story itself dragged a little, but the effects helped a lot. Still, a bit slow.
July 7, 2016
Zombies and conspiracy
An ex soldier, college students and zombies all rolled into one crazy adventure in the middle of Vegas. A group of students are saved from zombies by an ex soldier, who they consider a conspiracy nut. While he also questions his sanity . Will they make it out of Vegas alive? Alas some will not and one will find he is not so crazy after all.
An ex soldier, college students and zombies all rolled into one crazy adventure in the middle of Vegas. A group of students are saved from zombies by an ex soldier, who they consider a conspiracy nut. While he also questions his sanity . Will they make it out of Vegas alive? Alas some will not and one will find he is not so crazy after all.
August 23, 2015
Love the story had lots great zombie auction and gore it was a wonder full story and i would read it again and have already recommend to friends Had a few twist and some different take on the normal story
Read
October 17, 2015LOVED IT!!!!!!
August 6, 2015
Excellent read! Action packed.
August 20, 2016
too slow
October 25, 2015
Good read
Just wish the ending was different! But was good for a freebie!! I've read way worse lol I wish ending was different
Just wish the ending was different! But was good for a freebie!! I've read way worse lol I wish ending was different
November 10, 2015
Good reading
Interesting characters and good action .
The story is extended in parts a little more than usual and after a while I realized why , silly me . It is a series .
Interesting characters and good action .
The story is extended in parts a little more than usual and after a while I realized why , silly me . It is a series .
January 2, 2016
Teenage love has to go.
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