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Plagued #1
The Midamerica Zombie Half-Breed Experiment
When Tom, the son of a very powerful Senator, becomes stranded in the Plagued States of America while searching for his lost sister, his only hope of survival rests in the hands of a few grizzled veteran zombie hunters and a mysterious half-breed zombie woman he thinks may know where to find his sister.
168 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 6, 2013
300 people are currently reading
2130 people want to read
About the author
Better Hero Army
20 books66 followersBetter Hero Army is the (really cool) pen name of American author Evan Ramspott. Under the Better Hero Army name, Evan writes about zombies, gargoyles, fairies, aliens, and pretty much anything that doesn't belong in the mainstream (i.e., he writes about cool stuff under the BHA name). He has a really cool website at www.betterheroarmy.com, he's sometimes active on Twitter @BetterHeroArmy, and he's in a bunch of cool GoodReads groups.
Evan's other (not so cool) works of fiction are mainstream stories about social inequities and hardships (and are real downers by comparison).
When Evan isn't being a (cool) writer, he has a family and a day job and enjoys all three equally. Oh, and he likes the beach because it's also cool.
Evan's other (not so cool) works of fiction are mainstream stories about social inequities and hardships (and are real downers by comparison).
When Evan isn't being a (cool) writer, he has a family and a day job and enjoys all three equally. Oh, and he likes the beach because it's also cool.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 134 reviews
January 5, 2019
Plagued: The Midamerica Zombie Half-Breed Experiment by Better Hero Army is the first book of the Plagued series. The story is a horror tale we’ve all come to know, zombies have attacked. However, this one picks up more than a decade after the initial outbreak.
As the book starts off Tom is on a mission to go search for his sister that he lost track of years before when they were both children. Tom fills that his father still blames him for her loss and is doing his best to find out just what happened to her. When Tom arrives at the outpost of Moaning Coast where zombies are traded in and out to check their records for his sister Tom finds something he’d never seen before, a half-breed.
This story wasn’t too bad of a fast paced novella length zombie tale. I would as usual say with the length that things could use more depth to them but there were definitely some creative ideas to the world building. Being the start of the series it is possible more could be discovered in the later installments but for now this one would rate at 3 stars for me.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
As the book starts off Tom is on a mission to go search for his sister that he lost track of years before when they were both children. Tom fills that his father still blames him for her loss and is doing his best to find out just what happened to her. When Tom arrives at the outpost of Moaning Coast where zombies are traded in and out to check their records for his sister Tom finds something he’d never seen before, a half-breed.
This story wasn’t too bad of a fast paced novella length zombie tale. I would as usual say with the length that things could use more depth to them but there were definitely some creative ideas to the world building. Being the start of the series it is possible more could be discovered in the later installments but for now this one would rate at 3 stars for me.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
Want to read
August 21, 2018Freebie on BookBub - this seems interesting.
August 24, 2015
Different type of zombie dystopian book and was good all around...not one of the best I have read but it ranks up there.
In this story there is a sister turned to zombie and a brother out to find her 10 years later for his father. During this search he comes across a "half-breed" Kitty who might just know where to find her.
In this story there is a sister turned to zombie and a brother out to find her 10 years later for his father. During this search he comes across a "half-breed" Kitty who might just know where to find her.
September 18, 2018
2.5 Meh. It isn't terrible...but it isn't very good either. The idea of the hybrid zombie is what really caught my attention. Unfortunately, it's underdeveloped and provided very little intrigue to the overall plot. Difficult time getting connected to characters, it reads "too simple" (if that makes sense). Perhaps a tiny bit immature, or too young? I'm not sure. Either way, as of now, I won't be pursuing the next book in series.
July 9, 2025
I really enjoyed this story, it was short, but packed a real punch. I love everything Zombie related, so this was right up my street!!
It’s set in a future America, following a Zombie outbreak many years earlier and follows brothers Tom and Gary who are searching for their sister Larissa. Tom our main protagonist had been present when his sister was bitten, and his father has never forgiven him. The brothers are on a relentless pursuit to try and find her. Zombies co-exist in the new world with humans, and the spread of infection through bites can be erased when their glands are removed. However they can still eat you alive, so they’re not completely harmless. Scientists are working hard on a cure, so there is hope that the Zombies can be turned back into their human selves.
The brothers get separated, and Tom ends up with some Zombie Hunters, who are in possession of a Half-Breed Zombie, a girl called Kitty who is half human and half Zombie. Tom and Kitty form a bond and she helps Tom in the search for his sister.
To tell you any more would ruin the story, so you’ll have to read it or listen to it yourselves. I loved it, but I wish it had been longer, I feel that it could have gone far deeper into the characters and the story.
It was excellently narrated by Michael Joss who managed to keep the tension simmering away nicely!
Thank you to NetGalley, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-Op and the author for providing an Audio ARC for an unbiased review.
It’s set in a future America, following a Zombie outbreak many years earlier and follows brothers Tom and Gary who are searching for their sister Larissa. Tom our main protagonist had been present when his sister was bitten, and his father has never forgiven him. The brothers are on a relentless pursuit to try and find her. Zombies co-exist in the new world with humans, and the spread of infection through bites can be erased when their glands are removed. However they can still eat you alive, so they’re not completely harmless. Scientists are working hard on a cure, so there is hope that the Zombies can be turned back into their human selves.
The brothers get separated, and Tom ends up with some Zombie Hunters, who are in possession of a Half-Breed Zombie, a girl called Kitty who is half human and half Zombie. Tom and Kitty form a bond and she helps Tom in the search for his sister.
To tell you any more would ruin the story, so you’ll have to read it or listen to it yourselves. I loved it, but I wish it had been longer, I feel that it could have gone far deeper into the characters and the story.
It was excellently narrated by Michael Joss who managed to keep the tension simmering away nicely!
Thank you to NetGalley, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-Op and the author for providing an Audio ARC for an unbiased review.
February 13, 2015
Review: PLAGUED: THE MIDAMERICA ZOMBIE HALF-BREED EXPERIMENT (PLAGUED STATES, 1) by Better Hero Army
A compelling and articulate zombie approach, one of two I've read this week which have encouraged me to rethink my avoidance of this sub-genre. This is the first installment in a trilogy, both quality writing and creatively imagined. A decade following the first of the zombie plague, America consists of a few walled "Districts" (compounds) for the wealthy, some agriculture and manufacturing, and a few enclaves where zombies are confined. The rest is barren--home to zombie populations. The confined are sold as slaves, for factories; not for field work, because they can't bear the light of day.
The author doesn't blanch at zombie and hunter violence, but unlike many other stories of this ilk, it's not blood-drenched. Gore is not the focus: character and the very imaginative setting and background are the focus.
A compelling and articulate zombie approach, one of two I've read this week which have encouraged me to rethink my avoidance of this sub-genre. This is the first installment in a trilogy, both quality writing and creatively imagined. A decade following the first of the zombie plague, America consists of a few walled "Districts" (compounds) for the wealthy, some agriculture and manufacturing, and a few enclaves where zombies are confined. The rest is barren--home to zombie populations. The confined are sold as slaves, for factories; not for field work, because they can't bear the light of day.
The author doesn't blanch at zombie and hunter violence, but unlike many other stories of this ilk, it's not blood-drenched. Gore is not the focus: character and the very imaginative setting and background are the focus.
March 26, 2016
There were a lot of flaws in the origin story that didn't add up. Honestly this read like a rough draft. Some interesting ideas but it needs a lot work. More of a short story than a novel.
February 7, 2015
"I have your file, your picture. I know you like pictures. I'll tell your parents about you if I ever get out of here. In the meantime, just remember your name is Penelope Hope, and hope is a good thing."
-Tom
Please note that this book was given to KnightingaleReviews by the author in exchange for an honest review. Also, this is a collaborative project that was written with C.
A young man by the name of Tom travels to the Plagued States of America, one of his few and only hopes that may lead him to finding his little sister Larissa. Years ago, when the zombie wave first hit, his younger sibling was ripped away from him. Larissa was unexpectedly bitten when Tom was supposed to be protecting her, an incident that he could never forget even if he tried. It is here in the Plagued States of America, particularly the area known as Biter Hill, where our troubled protagonist must search high and low twice a year for a hope that may never come to fruition. Biter Hill is where many individuals come to trade zombies that they've recently acquired and gander at the spectacles surrounding them, but only the zombie hunters are crazy enough to go near flesh eating, mindless humans. Even while the zombies seem harmless, you should never get too close to them. Used as slaves by modern day humanity, people are willing to use them despite the dangers. These ferocious beasts are kept in a prison at night, moaning until dawn. Placed and corralled like cattle, they are fenced in, never allowed to leave a heavily guarded area.
Tom must look through the record books located at this zombie outpost. Perhaps he will see if his sister was brought here and finally fulfill his father's demands, or maybe something unexpectedly horrible will happen instead. When Tom meets Penelope, a half human/half zombie hybrid, he is naturally curious. Half-breeds are rare and a true site to see. While she appears distant and detached from the rest of the world, she's as fast as lightning and surprisingly intelligent. Her features are more human than zombie, and you could never tell her true nature unless you looked at her glazed eyes. Locked in a cage, she avoids Tom and rarely shows emotion. Despite Penelope's current feelings, Tom becomes seemingly more and more intrigued with her situation and her former self prior to this current zombie status. When Penelope catches a glimpse of a picture with Larissa on it, Tom knows that she is his only hope of finding her, no matter the outposts and their logs.
Suddenly, as he is trying to depart back to his home, a horrible outbreak occurs. Zombies are getting out, running rampant, feeding off of every human that they can find, craving their flesh. So many perish. Zombie hunters, while many are present, are no match for the numerable waves of zombies that just keep flowing out of the prison, and only a few uninfected civilians make it out of this ordeal alive, including Tom. A group of zombie hunters picked him up out of the chaos along with several other men and women. They are led by Peske, the owner of the half-breed Penelope who is still under his thumb. Together, this group must make it out alive through the zombie ridden wasteland if they ever hope to make it safety. Tom promised Peske that if he got them to a certain point, he would call his father, a powerful Senator, who would have the power to help them receive a rescue team to fly them out of trouble. However, he was only willing to do this if Peske allowed him to borrow Penelope so that he could find his younger sister while they were waiting for assistance.
In this day and age, zombie books are pumped out so often that the subject occasionally turns monotonous and feels so overused that the ideas are recycled time and time again. However, Plagued:The Midamerica Zombie Half-Breed Experiment was an amazing and refreshing zombie novel that all die hard lovers of the shuffling dead genre have to check out! The idea of half human/half zombie individuals was brilliantly executed! The mystery behind this subject unfolded quite well, and the answer to this secret was definitely unexpected. It was interesting to see how Better Hero Army created and breathed new life into a zombie world that had yet to be portrayed. While so many other stories in this genre are filled with nothing but chaos, his had a structure to it that involved several types of zombies. There were the half-breeds, a rare and fascinating topic to read about where we slowly discover their true nature during the book's entirety. Then we have the zombies who are selected and sold as slaves. These individuals are temporary disabled and, in a sense, operated upon, so that they cannot infect others with their contagious bite. Finally, we get to see the wild zombies that roam the land in search of meat to satisfy their insatiable hunger, and not only are there adult zombies but children are included in this group as well. Perhaps the children are just as compelling to read about as the half-breeds are. We don't want to spoil too much about the story so we'll just say that they don't kill for themselves and never age.
There are so many aspects to this book that we thoroughly enjoyed. One of these includes how different the zombie hunters were portrayed compared to the everyday civilians. These two groups kept butting heads and definitely added a rich aspect to the book.
"How the hell do you guys do this for a living?" Tyler asked.
"Hunting zombies? It's easy. No different than lions going into a herd of horned caribou. Any one of them could gore them lions, and the lions know it! But that don't stop them. It's when you start thinking like you're going to die, like you're prey. That's when you get yourself killed."-Peske
As many have undoubtedly read, multiple zombie books have cataclysmic repercussions after the zombie apocalypse. Such worlds are often filled with lawless nations with gun-toting generic characters. However, Better Hero Army has interestingly enough constructed a zombie after effect that possesses a mostly high functioning human society that has learned to control the zombie outbreak, instead of letting it rule their lives. Zombies, while dangerous, also provide jobs for a large range of individuals who are willing to expose themselves to the danger that zombie hunting harbors. A cure is now on the way, but how they are figuring out the means to the end is part of the government's many dirty little secrets.
If you are looking for a survival book, this is a possible option for you. We loved the descriptions contained in Plagued. For example, fireflies coated the scenery beyond the main scene. While many saw glowing insects, these glowing lights were really the eyes of the walking dead, slowly advancing on the group hoping to catch a meal. Can you imagine the chills after reading that?
Overall, there are so many things to love in Better Hero Army's first installment in the Plagued States of America series to possibly write about. The journey to find Tom's sister and the guilt ridden conscious that he endured throughout this novel was a story worth telling. The ending was a shocker to us. It was not what we were expecting. It was both heartbreaking and uplifting at the same time. How is this possible? Read Plagued: The Midamerica Zombie Half-Breed Experiment and discover the answer for yourself!
You can see reviews like this one and more at http://knightingalereviews.blogspot.com/.
(http://knightingalereviews.blogspot.c...)
-Tom
Please note that this book was given to KnightingaleReviews by the author in exchange for an honest review. Also, this is a collaborative project that was written with C.
A young man by the name of Tom travels to the Plagued States of America, one of his few and only hopes that may lead him to finding his little sister Larissa. Years ago, when the zombie wave first hit, his younger sibling was ripped away from him. Larissa was unexpectedly bitten when Tom was supposed to be protecting her, an incident that he could never forget even if he tried. It is here in the Plagued States of America, particularly the area known as Biter Hill, where our troubled protagonist must search high and low twice a year for a hope that may never come to fruition. Biter Hill is where many individuals come to trade zombies that they've recently acquired and gander at the spectacles surrounding them, but only the zombie hunters are crazy enough to go near flesh eating, mindless humans. Even while the zombies seem harmless, you should never get too close to them. Used as slaves by modern day humanity, people are willing to use them despite the dangers. These ferocious beasts are kept in a prison at night, moaning until dawn. Placed and corralled like cattle, they are fenced in, never allowed to leave a heavily guarded area.
Tom must look through the record books located at this zombie outpost. Perhaps he will see if his sister was brought here and finally fulfill his father's demands, or maybe something unexpectedly horrible will happen instead. When Tom meets Penelope, a half human/half zombie hybrid, he is naturally curious. Half-breeds are rare and a true site to see. While she appears distant and detached from the rest of the world, she's as fast as lightning and surprisingly intelligent. Her features are more human than zombie, and you could never tell her true nature unless you looked at her glazed eyes. Locked in a cage, she avoids Tom and rarely shows emotion. Despite Penelope's current feelings, Tom becomes seemingly more and more intrigued with her situation and her former self prior to this current zombie status. When Penelope catches a glimpse of a picture with Larissa on it, Tom knows that she is his only hope of finding her, no matter the outposts and their logs.
Suddenly, as he is trying to depart back to his home, a horrible outbreak occurs. Zombies are getting out, running rampant, feeding off of every human that they can find, craving their flesh. So many perish. Zombie hunters, while many are present, are no match for the numerable waves of zombies that just keep flowing out of the prison, and only a few uninfected civilians make it out of this ordeal alive, including Tom. A group of zombie hunters picked him up out of the chaos along with several other men and women. They are led by Peske, the owner of the half-breed Penelope who is still under his thumb. Together, this group must make it out alive through the zombie ridden wasteland if they ever hope to make it safety. Tom promised Peske that if he got them to a certain point, he would call his father, a powerful Senator, who would have the power to help them receive a rescue team to fly them out of trouble. However, he was only willing to do this if Peske allowed him to borrow Penelope so that he could find his younger sister while they were waiting for assistance.
In this day and age, zombie books are pumped out so often that the subject occasionally turns monotonous and feels so overused that the ideas are recycled time and time again. However, Plagued:The Midamerica Zombie Half-Breed Experiment was an amazing and refreshing zombie novel that all die hard lovers of the shuffling dead genre have to check out! The idea of half human/half zombie individuals was brilliantly executed! The mystery behind this subject unfolded quite well, and the answer to this secret was definitely unexpected. It was interesting to see how Better Hero Army created and breathed new life into a zombie world that had yet to be portrayed. While so many other stories in this genre are filled with nothing but chaos, his had a structure to it that involved several types of zombies. There were the half-breeds, a rare and fascinating topic to read about where we slowly discover their true nature during the book's entirety. Then we have the zombies who are selected and sold as slaves. These individuals are temporary disabled and, in a sense, operated upon, so that they cannot infect others with their contagious bite. Finally, we get to see the wild zombies that roam the land in search of meat to satisfy their insatiable hunger, and not only are there adult zombies but children are included in this group as well. Perhaps the children are just as compelling to read about as the half-breeds are. We don't want to spoil too much about the story so we'll just say that they don't kill for themselves and never age.
There are so many aspects to this book that we thoroughly enjoyed. One of these includes how different the zombie hunters were portrayed compared to the everyday civilians. These two groups kept butting heads and definitely added a rich aspect to the book.
"How the hell do you guys do this for a living?" Tyler asked.
"Hunting zombies? It's easy. No different than lions going into a herd of horned caribou. Any one of them could gore them lions, and the lions know it! But that don't stop them. It's when you start thinking like you're going to die, like you're prey. That's when you get yourself killed."-Peske
As many have undoubtedly read, multiple zombie books have cataclysmic repercussions after the zombie apocalypse. Such worlds are often filled with lawless nations with gun-toting generic characters. However, Better Hero Army has interestingly enough constructed a zombie after effect that possesses a mostly high functioning human society that has learned to control the zombie outbreak, instead of letting it rule their lives. Zombies, while dangerous, also provide jobs for a large range of individuals who are willing to expose themselves to the danger that zombie hunting harbors. A cure is now on the way, but how they are figuring out the means to the end is part of the government's many dirty little secrets.
If you are looking for a survival book, this is a possible option for you. We loved the descriptions contained in Plagued. For example, fireflies coated the scenery beyond the main scene. While many saw glowing insects, these glowing lights were really the eyes of the walking dead, slowly advancing on the group hoping to catch a meal. Can you imagine the chills after reading that?
Overall, there are so many things to love in Better Hero Army's first installment in the Plagued States of America series to possibly write about. The journey to find Tom's sister and the guilt ridden conscious that he endured throughout this novel was a story worth telling. The ending was a shocker to us. It was not what we were expecting. It was both heartbreaking and uplifting at the same time. How is this possible? Read Plagued: The Midamerica Zombie Half-Breed Experiment and discover the answer for yourself!
You can see reviews like this one and more at http://knightingalereviews.blogspot.com/.
(http://knightingalereviews.blogspot.c...)
November 18, 2017
An interesting concept in the huge world of zombies. Tom is a young man forced to go with his brother, Gary, to try to find his younger sister, Larissa. Tom blames himself (as does his father) for allowing Larissa to be turned into a zombie 10 years before. While Tom and Gary are in the zombie trading area, havoc breaks loose as the zombies become free.
The idea that the government would "cure" zombies in order for them to be used as slave labor is unique. What better way to get free workers than to use zombies? Of course, when you have slaves, you also have slave traders, who also seem to function as zombie hunters.
Tom meets a young woman who is a half-breed zombie and decides to use her to find his sister. Questions arise: can he trust Penelope to not hurt him? Can he find Larissa? And, most importantly, can Penelope be cured?
The story was entertaining, but left me with a lot of unanswered questions about what made half-breed zombies. I don't know if there are more books in this series that explain things better, but I would like to know more. All in all, an interesting book if you love zombies.
The idea that the government would "cure" zombies in order for them to be used as slave labor is unique. What better way to get free workers than to use zombies? Of course, when you have slaves, you also have slave traders, who also seem to function as zombie hunters.
Tom meets a young woman who is a half-breed zombie and decides to use her to find his sister. Questions arise: can he trust Penelope to not hurt him? Can he find Larissa? And, most importantly, can Penelope be cured?
The story was entertaining, but left me with a lot of unanswered questions about what made half-breed zombies. I don't know if there are more books in this series that explain things better, but I would like to know more. All in all, an interesting book if you love zombies.
December 2, 2020
Once again an author I have never read has managed to pull me into their world and made spending time there worthwhile. The story flows really well and gives you a fairly decent idea about the characters so that you basically know who they are and how they may react to certain situations. The writing and dialogue are perfect for the characters and things that happen to and around them.
Tom is the son of a Senator in a safe District who becomes stranded in the Plagued States of America. Tom's father blames him for the loss of his daughter, Tom's sister, during the first outbreak and wants her to be located. While leaving for their next destination the unthinkable happens and the zombies get loose on the town. Tom watches his brother get away and he is left to place his survival into the hands of a few grizzled veteran zombie hunters and a mysterious half-breed zombie woman who may be able to lead him to his sister.
This is an interesting take on the zombie genre that makes it even more interesting. The zombies are not just one way but they have varying levels and more possibilities for what and how the zombies will react. Very entertaining.
Tom is the son of a Senator in a safe District who becomes stranded in the Plagued States of America. Tom's father blames him for the loss of his daughter, Tom's sister, during the first outbreak and wants her to be located. While leaving for their next destination the unthinkable happens and the zombies get loose on the town. Tom watches his brother get away and he is left to place his survival into the hands of a few grizzled veteran zombie hunters and a mysterious half-breed zombie woman who may be able to lead him to his sister.
This is an interesting take on the zombie genre that makes it even more interesting. The zombies are not just one way but they have varying levels and more possibilities for what and how the zombies will react. Very entertaining.
November 19, 2025
Although this is the first in a new series it left me feeling disjointed and deflated. This is a bold attempt to be more than your usual zombie story but for me it wasn't one thing or another it tried to hard and just confused me. In places it was too matter of fact in other ott plot twists. It was a quick listen that could appeal to basic zombie fans but not horror. I liked the premise but it didnt grip me enough to look for the next in the series. I do think if you hooked them on book 1 this might become more over time. I found myself laughing in the wrong way and glad when it ended. The plot overall was good. The narration was questionable in places and did not hook me into the story it felt a misdirection and the quality of the audio was not brilliant. Although not my cup of tea if you are looking for a bold different zombie attempt this might be for you. Sadly its 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 for me. Thanks netgallery, publisher, author and narrator.
May 9, 2019
A decent, quick holiday read.
I have to be honest, it was an enjoyable jaunt but I didn't invest in any of the characters. The main character I found to be whiney and self-pitying, and none of the other significant ones were very likeable. There were one or two who it seemed were going to be developed more but ultimately weren't.
The other issue I had is it felt like the book was part way through a series, not book one. We are dropped into a world where there have been various "outbreaks", and zombies, while the world is looking for a cure, are isolated into certain areas while hunters and slavers sell them for things as diverse as slave labour for building cars and zombie women for weird erotic purposes. These are not like any zombies I've seen before, and I wanted some explanations that weren't there.
These gripes aside, and allowing the occasional typo / editorial mistake, for a fairly short and fast-to-read bit of escapism, it was overall pretty enjoyable.
I have to be honest, it was an enjoyable jaunt but I didn't invest in any of the characters. The main character I found to be whiney and self-pitying, and none of the other significant ones were very likeable. There were one or two who it seemed were going to be developed more but ultimately weren't.
The other issue I had is it felt like the book was part way through a series, not book one. We are dropped into a world where there have been various "outbreaks", and zombies, while the world is looking for a cure, are isolated into certain areas while hunters and slavers sell them for things as diverse as slave labour for building cars and zombie women for weird erotic purposes. These are not like any zombies I've seen before, and I wanted some explanations that weren't there.
These gripes aside, and allowing the occasional typo / editorial mistake, for a fairly short and fast-to-read bit of escapism, it was overall pretty enjoyable.
January 20, 2014
This captivating book with its refreshing take on what an outbreak of zombies could entail, turned out to be a read-through-in-one-go for me. Compelled by his father, his brother Gary, and his own feeling of guilt, Tom ventures into the zombie plagued states to search for his sister, Larissa. When the zombie trading post is cast into chaos, Tom uses his status as senator's son and the survival of a group of zombie hunters, a half breed, and some tourists, to reach his goal.
I call Plagued a refreshing read because it is not the usual zombie apocalypse and world being overrun with hordes of zombies scenario. In this case the zombies are contained and controlled and, barring accidents, the general population is safe from them. There even seems to be a way to make them safe for use in the states which are not zombie infested.
Full of nonstop adventure and a great deal of edge-of-your-chair suspense, this slightly dystopian novel is definitely one of the very best of its kind, and, thank heavens, not another Hunger Games look alike.
The characters, especially the main characters, are skilfully crafted, fleshed out and realistic. Tom, as ultimate main character, is particularly realistic for a young man with a guilt complex; the desire to do the right thing and the doubts that any person should have in the kind of situation that presents itself to him. Life or death decisions are part of the zombie hunters' daily existence. Tom however, must make a similar decision and that on a much more personal level.
For a read filled with adventure, a few thoroughly horrific incidents and a touching deal of tenderness, I recommend Plagued as an absolute must-read. I sincerely hope that we'll see much more of Evan Ramspott's brilliant writing in the near future. (Ellen Fritz)
I call Plagued a refreshing read because it is not the usual zombie apocalypse and world being overrun with hordes of zombies scenario. In this case the zombies are contained and controlled and, barring accidents, the general population is safe from them. There even seems to be a way to make them safe for use in the states which are not zombie infested.
Full of nonstop adventure and a great deal of edge-of-your-chair suspense, this slightly dystopian novel is definitely one of the very best of its kind, and, thank heavens, not another Hunger Games look alike.
The characters, especially the main characters, are skilfully crafted, fleshed out and realistic. Tom, as ultimate main character, is particularly realistic for a young man with a guilt complex; the desire to do the right thing and the doubts that any person should have in the kind of situation that presents itself to him. Life or death decisions are part of the zombie hunters' daily existence. Tom however, must make a similar decision and that on a much more personal level.
For a read filled with adventure, a few thoroughly horrific incidents and a touching deal of tenderness, I recommend Plagued as an absolute must-read. I sincerely hope that we'll see much more of Evan Ramspott's brilliant writing in the near future. (Ellen Fritz)
September 1, 2015
3.5/5, but rounded up for a rollicking good story.
I really enjoyed the concept, and the characters worked pretty well for me.
I really enjoyed the concept, and the characters worked pretty well for me.
July 19, 2018
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
This was a really interesting take on a zombie apocalypse. The book itself had a lot of interesting ideas, and it really appealed to me, but I wasn’t a massive fan of the book itself. It didn’t keep my attention, and I often found myself having to rewind and relisten to chapters.
Andrew B. Wehrlen was a pretty good narrator. He made each character feel different, and he really embodied each character so they felt real.
This was a really interesting take on a zombie apocalypse. The book itself had a lot of interesting ideas, and it really appealed to me, but I wasn’t a massive fan of the book itself. It didn’t keep my attention, and I often found myself having to rewind and relisten to chapters.
Andrew B. Wehrlen was a pretty good narrator. He made each character feel different, and he really embodied each character so they felt real.
September 2, 2019
Very much liking this series
August 22, 2025
I received this audiobook from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The book is a short, zombie dystopian audiobook (approximately 4 hours) that introduces a world where humans, zombies, and “half-breeds” coexist after a plague.
The story takes place in a post-apocalyptic America, years after a devastating zombie outbreak. Humanity has largely contained the plague, building settlements and even experimenting with zombies to find cures or ways to control them. Among these experiments are the “half-breeds”—zombies that retain some human traits.
The main character, Tom, a young man haunted by guilt because his sister, Larissa, was bitten by a zombie when he was a child under his watch. For ten years, he has carried that guilt and is determined to find her. This is the story of him trying to find her.
This was an entertaining listen. The premise of half-breed zombies is unique and definitely kept me curious, and Tom’s search for his sister adds some emotional depth. The pacing is fast, with plenty of action, so it never drags.
The worldbuilding hints at fascinating ideas—zombie trading, cures, half-breeds—but doesn’t explore them fully yet. The ending is abrupt, leaving things unresolved and clearly setting up for future installments.
All in all, a quick and fun zombie story with some fresh twists. I’ll be interested to see how the series develops.
The story takes place in a post-apocalyptic America, years after a devastating zombie outbreak. Humanity has largely contained the plague, building settlements and even experimenting with zombies to find cures or ways to control them. Among these experiments are the “half-breeds”—zombies that retain some human traits.
The main character, Tom, a young man haunted by guilt because his sister, Larissa, was bitten by a zombie when he was a child under his watch. For ten years, he has carried that guilt and is determined to find her. This is the story of him trying to find her.
This was an entertaining listen. The premise of half-breed zombies is unique and definitely kept me curious, and Tom’s search for his sister adds some emotional depth. The pacing is fast, with plenty of action, so it never drags.
The worldbuilding hints at fascinating ideas—zombie trading, cures, half-breeds—but doesn’t explore them fully yet. The ending is abrupt, leaving things unresolved and clearly setting up for future installments.
All in all, a quick and fun zombie story with some fresh twists. I’ll be interested to see how the series develops.
January 1, 2014
Plagued: The Midamerica Zombie Half-Breed Experiment is a mouthful of a name for a novella written by Evan Ramspott. The story introduces us to Tom and Gary, brothers who have come to the town of Biter Hill, one of the few locations within the Plagued States where the zombie slave trade occurs, to search out records on their lost sister, Larissa, who was infected ten years earlier and who may have come through the town as a slave at one point. Thorough records are kept on the zombies who pass through and they have been ordered by their father, a powerful senator, to find her. They return to this same place, year in and year out, in an effort to fulfill their father’s wishes.
Tom feels guilt for what happened to Larissa, since she was in his care when she was bitten. But Tom was twelve at the time, and had no experience with dealing with zombies. He struggles with the idea that he shouldn’t be held responsible, but feels guilty nonetheless. It doesn’t help that his father and brother both blame him, in their own particular ways, for what happened.
Tom comes across a half-breed zombie in a slaver’s cage while in Biter’s Hill. She looks like a normal uninfected human. There are claims that half-breeds are creatures born of a human who is infected while pregnant, some other, unknown reason for their existence seems more likely. Though she is savage, there is a connection between the creature and Tom. She also seems rather interested in the picture of his sister when she sees it.
Tom is separated from his brother when the prison in Biter Hill maintaining most of the zombies who are being held for the slave trade has a breakout. Tom has to flee with several zombie hunters and slave traders at that point; including the one who has the half-breed who Tom has discovered is named Penelope. Together, they must enter into the wastelands in an effort to find their way to another place of safety. Tom suspects that Penelope knows something about his missing sister and uses his clout as a senator’s son to get the ragged band of survivors to head to a place where he believes Larissa have migrated to in the decade since she’d turned with the promise of rescue and wealth if they do. And he is going to need Penelope’s help to find her.
Plagued is definitely a different type of zombie apocalypse tale. It is focused on Tom’s personal journey and the relationship he forms with Penelope along the way. The craggy old slave trader Peske was probably my favorite character though, as someone who is gruff and seemingly uncaring about anyone else, he does what it takes to keep everyone alive and seems to have a soft spot for his half-breed who he insists isn’t for sale. Tom is well developed as a character and Penelope, as a confused creature of two worlds generates both intrigue and sympathy.
It’s clear that this will be the first of perhaps a series of zombie stories set in this world, and this is a positive start. The zombies themselves are fairly Romero-esque and traditional, but the introduction of half-breeds other factors like potential cures and being able to eliminate a zombie’s ability to spread infection once they are captured adds some unique elements to this saga. This is a quick read and the world the author created, long past the initial terrifying days of the zompcalypse, had an air of believability to it as the survivors adapt and cope with the fact that the undead are most likely a permanent fixture in their universe.
Tom feels guilt for what happened to Larissa, since she was in his care when she was bitten. But Tom was twelve at the time, and had no experience with dealing with zombies. He struggles with the idea that he shouldn’t be held responsible, but feels guilty nonetheless. It doesn’t help that his father and brother both blame him, in their own particular ways, for what happened.
Tom comes across a half-breed zombie in a slaver’s cage while in Biter’s Hill. She looks like a normal uninfected human. There are claims that half-breeds are creatures born of a human who is infected while pregnant, some other, unknown reason for their existence seems more likely. Though she is savage, there is a connection between the creature and Tom. She also seems rather interested in the picture of his sister when she sees it.
Tom is separated from his brother when the prison in Biter Hill maintaining most of the zombies who are being held for the slave trade has a breakout. Tom has to flee with several zombie hunters and slave traders at that point; including the one who has the half-breed who Tom has discovered is named Penelope. Together, they must enter into the wastelands in an effort to find their way to another place of safety. Tom suspects that Penelope knows something about his missing sister and uses his clout as a senator’s son to get the ragged band of survivors to head to a place where he believes Larissa have migrated to in the decade since she’d turned with the promise of rescue and wealth if they do. And he is going to need Penelope’s help to find her.
Plagued is definitely a different type of zombie apocalypse tale. It is focused on Tom’s personal journey and the relationship he forms with Penelope along the way. The craggy old slave trader Peske was probably my favorite character though, as someone who is gruff and seemingly uncaring about anyone else, he does what it takes to keep everyone alive and seems to have a soft spot for his half-breed who he insists isn’t for sale. Tom is well developed as a character and Penelope, as a confused creature of two worlds generates both intrigue and sympathy.
It’s clear that this will be the first of perhaps a series of zombie stories set in this world, and this is a positive start. The zombies themselves are fairly Romero-esque and traditional, but the introduction of half-breeds other factors like potential cures and being able to eliminate a zombie’s ability to spread infection once they are captured adds some unique elements to this saga. This is a quick read and the world the author created, long past the initial terrifying days of the zompcalypse, had an air of believability to it as the survivors adapt and cope with the fact that the undead are most likely a permanent fixture in their universe.
August 13, 2017
This book has a very long name :)
It also perfectly describes what you're getting into.
Before starting it, I noticed there are 4 parts to the Plagued series. It can't be that bad then, right? For only Cassandra Clare can write crap in 53 installments and still make a profit out of it. Other people would go bust.
Better Hero Army knows this. Rather, Evan Ramspott knows this. And as he is still writing stuff, although under unusual pseudonym, I imagine his works are getting better and better.
His publishers like what he's writing, as they are contemplating turning this entire series into audiobooks, so I imagine story will continue on a positive trend.
Here we have two brothers entering the risky zone of zombies. They are looking for their long-abandoned sister, bitten by zombies a very long time ago.
I guess guilt takes about 10 years to fully kick in, as that's when they finally decide to drop the security of their awesome lives as sons of a mighty senator and go look for their little zombie sister.
In this world, getting bitten by a zombie isn't an immediate death penalty as it's possible to get pumped full of inhibitors which can slow/stop/reverse the process, depending on the individual. As a result, people aren't that afraid of them, and employ them as a workforce. Or security. Or... something else.
Naturally, you have dealers/suppliers present who'll make money in this process of good, old-fashioned, slave trade.
While zombies aren't really terribly useful slaves, as one would expect, there are half-breeds who may be. Half-breeds are a kind of a cross between humans and zombies.
Nobody is sure how this really works - whether an inhibited zombie bite victim, pregnant bite victim, government experiment or something else - but nobody cares either. There's a good money to be made in the trade.
Better Hero Army isn't spoon-feeding you information, which I liked very much. If you miss a dialogue or fail to recognize signs and come to own conclusions, you may be kept guessing for a while. Eventually, characters will connect the dots so you're not going to miss anything, but you'll have a feeling of exploring the world on your own, rather than watching a summer blockbuster movie which spells things out for you.
There are still plenty of things we haven't found an answer for. But that's where the sequel kicks in. Despite a few shortcomings the book #1 has, I must admit I'm looking forward to it. It's been over a year since first part was made into an audiobook, so I hope intentions of recording other parts as well is real.
Andrew Wehrlen did a great job narrating the book and I'd be happy to see him back in the sequel.
Overall, 4* with a chance of sunny days.
This book has been provided to me free of charge by the publisher.
It also perfectly describes what you're getting into.
Before starting it, I noticed there are 4 parts to the Plagued series. It can't be that bad then, right? For only Cassandra Clare can write crap in 53 installments and still make a profit out of it. Other people would go bust.
Better Hero Army knows this. Rather, Evan Ramspott knows this. And as he is still writing stuff, although under unusual pseudonym, I imagine his works are getting better and better.
His publishers like what he's writing, as they are contemplating turning this entire series into audiobooks, so I imagine story will continue on a positive trend.
Here we have two brothers entering the risky zone of zombies. They are looking for their long-abandoned sister, bitten by zombies a very long time ago.
I guess guilt takes about 10 years to fully kick in, as that's when they finally decide to drop the security of their awesome lives as sons of a mighty senator and go look for their little zombie sister.
In this world, getting bitten by a zombie isn't an immediate death penalty as it's possible to get pumped full of inhibitors which can slow/stop/reverse the process, depending on the individual. As a result, people aren't that afraid of them, and employ them as a workforce. Or security. Or... something else.
Naturally, you have dealers/suppliers present who'll make money in this process of good, old-fashioned, slave trade.
While zombies aren't really terribly useful slaves, as one would expect, there are half-breeds who may be. Half-breeds are a kind of a cross between humans and zombies.
Nobody is sure how this really works - whether an inhibited zombie bite victim, pregnant bite victim, government experiment or something else - but nobody cares either. There's a good money to be made in the trade.
Better Hero Army isn't spoon-feeding you information, which I liked very much. If you miss a dialogue or fail to recognize signs and come to own conclusions, you may be kept guessing for a while. Eventually, characters will connect the dots so you're not going to miss anything, but you'll have a feeling of exploring the world on your own, rather than watching a summer blockbuster movie which spells things out for you.
There are still plenty of things we haven't found an answer for. But that's where the sequel kicks in. Despite a few shortcomings the book #1 has, I must admit I'm looking forward to it. It's been over a year since first part was made into an audiobook, so I hope intentions of recording other parts as well is real.
Andrew Wehrlen did a great job narrating the book and I'd be happy to see him back in the sequel.
Overall, 4* with a chance of sunny days.
This book has been provided to me free of charge by the publisher.
August 29, 2014
Let me preface this review by stating that I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I'm a lover of all things zombie. I love reading new books about them, because many times the author has a completely different take on how the zombie apocalypse occurred. This one sat on my to-read list for awhile, and I'm sad that it did. The story follows Tom Jefferson, the son of a senator as he goes to Biter's Hill with his brother Gary in what feels like is the impossible task of finding their sister Larissa - who was bitten when she was eight years old.
Biter's Hill appears to be both a tourist destination and a place where zombie hunters "de-fang" the zombies and sell them as slaves. By de-fanging the zombies (basically removing the salivary glands), they are no longer contagious, but they are still dangerous - as they will still hunt and eat humans. While there to hunt through the books to find his sister, Tom sees an oddity - a half-breed. Eventually the zombies break free of their prison and all hell breaks loose at Biter's Hill.
Tom barely manages to escape on the duck owned by the owner of the half-breed girl with several others. Before everything went sour, Tom had managed to find the half-breed's name and information. The group makes their way to an airstrip in Midamerica, deep within the zombie territory, in order to try to contact the District - where Tom's father can and will send a rescue team. While en route, he figures out how to communicate with the half-breed and learns that the airstrip is where the half-breeds and the zombie children live. The zombie children apparently do not know how to hunt and are cared for by the half-breeds. He also figures out how the half-breeds have been created.
The story itself is pretty well written. The zombies are not rotting corpses but pale, almost albino-like, creatures that detest sunlight. They moan to draw other zombies to their prey, and they descend upon humans in hordes. I am definitely looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
I'm a lover of all things zombie. I love reading new books about them, because many times the author has a completely different take on how the zombie apocalypse occurred. This one sat on my to-read list for awhile, and I'm sad that it did. The story follows Tom Jefferson, the son of a senator as he goes to Biter's Hill with his brother Gary in what feels like is the impossible task of finding their sister Larissa - who was bitten when she was eight years old.
Biter's Hill appears to be both a tourist destination and a place where zombie hunters "de-fang" the zombies and sell them as slaves. By de-fanging the zombies (basically removing the salivary glands), they are no longer contagious, but they are still dangerous - as they will still hunt and eat humans. While there to hunt through the books to find his sister, Tom sees an oddity - a half-breed. Eventually the zombies break free of their prison and all hell breaks loose at Biter's Hill.
Tom barely manages to escape on the duck owned by the owner of the half-breed girl with several others. Before everything went sour, Tom had managed to find the half-breed's name and information. The group makes their way to an airstrip in Midamerica, deep within the zombie territory, in order to try to contact the District - where Tom's father can and will send a rescue team. While en route, he figures out how to communicate with the half-breed and learns that the airstrip is where the half-breeds and the zombie children live. The zombie children apparently do not know how to hunt and are cared for by the half-breeds. He also figures out how the half-breeds have been created.
The story itself is pretty well written. The zombies are not rotting corpses but pale, almost albino-like, creatures that detest sunlight. They moan to draw other zombies to their prey, and they descend upon humans in hordes. I am definitely looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
September 7, 2015
A unique and interesting take on Zombie Apocalypse! In Better Hero Army's world, there is such a thing as a zombie slave trade. There is also such a thing as half-breed zombies.
Tom and Gary are brothers who are looking for their sister, Larissa, who had been infected many years ago. Biter's Hill is where the slave trading happens, so the brothers travel there to find out any more information about their sister. It's also where a certain half-breed slave had caught Tom's eye (figuratively speaking--I had to point that out considering we're talking zombies and all) and he had a feeling that this half-breed knew where to find their sister...
The thrill starts as a horde falls upon Biter's Hill and Tom was stuck with a few other survivors, and thankfully, including the half-breed. As a Senator's son, Tom had privileges and he could easily get rescued along with the others but not now when there's a possibility that he could see his sister again...
Wow, firstly, this was a very well written novella. I really enjoyed this author's writing. An unpopular opinion, I'm not very crazy about zombies, so this was a new territory for me. I enjoyed this because this author provided something new. I went through this book in a jiff--probably half a day or see with some breaks in between. I did not expect the ending. I was a bit disappointed by it but there are just some things that aren't meant to be, I guess. ;)
I will surely revisit Plagued States of America and look forward to reading more about this half-breed. :)
Tom and Gary are brothers who are looking for their sister, Larissa, who had been infected many years ago. Biter's Hill is where the slave trading happens, so the brothers travel there to find out any more information about their sister. It's also where a certain half-breed slave had caught Tom's eye (figuratively speaking--I had to point that out considering we're talking zombies and all) and he had a feeling that this half-breed knew where to find their sister...
The thrill starts as a horde falls upon Biter's Hill and Tom was stuck with a few other survivors, and thankfully, including the half-breed. As a Senator's son, Tom had privileges and he could easily get rescued along with the others but not now when there's a possibility that he could see his sister again...
Wow, firstly, this was a very well written novella. I really enjoyed this author's writing. An unpopular opinion, I'm not very crazy about zombies, so this was a new territory for me. I enjoyed this because this author provided something new. I went through this book in a jiff--probably half a day or see with some breaks in between. I did not expect the ending. I was a bit disappointed by it but there are just some things that aren't meant to be, I guess. ;)
I will surely revisit Plagued States of America and look forward to reading more about this half-breed. :)
September 17, 2020
I thought this short-book was a very interesting take on the zombie apocalypse.
There can be half-breeds. This happens when a zombie is cured, but only half the way is what I gathered (Though I am not sure why you would only want to be cured partly… but I am going with it). Tom, who is trying to find his eight-year-old sister who was bitten on his watch (guilt alert), has a weird attraction to a half-breed girl (later known as Penelope, her human name).
When Bitter Hill, the place where zombies are basically sold as slaves and are fixed so they can't spread their diseases, is overrun with the zombies that were being sold there (because gathering a bunch of hungry-undead zombies in one place was the smartest idea they came up with), a group of hunters, traders, including Tom and a half-breed, set out to find a place to call help.
There is lots of deaths and such in this book. I found some grammatical errors in this myself and the copy I had could have been printed out better on my printer from the 1990s, but overall, I thought it was an interesting take on it. I liked it being a short read so I didn't get bored with it.
I would read the next book when given the chance, but I am not jumping up and down for it.
There can be half-breeds. This happens when a zombie is cured, but only half the way is what I gathered (Though I am not sure why you would only want to be cured partly… but I am going with it). Tom, who is trying to find his eight-year-old sister who was bitten on his watch (guilt alert), has a weird attraction to a half-breed girl (later known as Penelope, her human name).
When Bitter Hill, the place where zombies are basically sold as slaves and are fixed so they can't spread their diseases, is overrun with the zombies that were being sold there (because gathering a bunch of hungry-undead zombies in one place was the smartest idea they came up with), a group of hunters, traders, including Tom and a half-breed, set out to find a place to call help.
There is lots of deaths and such in this book. I found some grammatical errors in this myself and the copy I had could have been printed out better on my printer from the 1990s, but overall, I thought it was an interesting take on it. I liked it being a short read so I didn't get bored with it.
I would read the next book when given the chance, but I am not jumping up and down for it.
June 24, 2015
Plagued States of America Book 1 is a self-contained story. Looking at notes after the end of the story, Book 2 has different characters and Book 3 has at least one character from this series launch. I'm not a big fan of this style so I'm mentioning it up front. If you're fine with it - then no worries.
I blazed through this zombie adventure. It is character-driven with plenty of action. Two brothers set out to check sales records of three sanctioned outposts. The zombie trade is legal and business is good. They are looking for one specific zombie they haven't seen in a decade: their baby sister.
Tom still feels guilty of what happened that night a decade ago. The search for answers and hopefully a family reunion is the motivation to go into these wastelands.
It doesn't take too long for all hell to break loose and kick off the action. Tom, a half-breed, and a handful of others (seasoned hunters, traders, and tourists) need to get to a radio to call for rescue. Unfortunately, the radio is surrounded by death and destruction.
Fun read! Plenty of death. Well-done setting and characters.
I blazed through this zombie adventure. It is character-driven with plenty of action. Two brothers set out to check sales records of three sanctioned outposts. The zombie trade is legal and business is good. They are looking for one specific zombie they haven't seen in a decade: their baby sister.
Tom still feels guilty of what happened that night a decade ago. The search for answers and hopefully a family reunion is the motivation to go into these wastelands.
It doesn't take too long for all hell to break loose and kick off the action. Tom, a half-breed, and a handful of others (seasoned hunters, traders, and tourists) need to get to a radio to call for rescue. Unfortunately, the radio is surrounded by death and destruction.
Fun read! Plenty of death. Well-done setting and characters.
February 9, 2016
Fighting For A Real Life
This series must be read in order. This is the first book. I can't wait to read Plagued: The Rock Island Zombie Counteractant Experiment to find out what happens next!
Tom is the black sheep son of a very powerful US Senator ... Too bad for him he will always be paying for what happened to Larissa. He will spend the rest of his life searching for the little sister he failed during the zombie outbreak when he was little more than a child himself. Will his family always treat him this badly? Will he, by some miracle, find Larissa? Will he be able to bring her home? Or will he spend the rest of his short life searching The Plagued States Of America?
****This series is suitable for mature young adult through adult readers who enjoy postapocalyptal dystopian action adventure thriller mysteries where you never know what could be around the next corner :)
This series must be read in order. This is the first book. I can't wait to read Plagued: The Rock Island Zombie Counteractant Experiment to find out what happens next!
Tom is the black sheep son of a very powerful US Senator ... Too bad for him he will always be paying for what happened to Larissa. He will spend the rest of his life searching for the little sister he failed during the zombie outbreak when he was little more than a child himself. Will his family always treat him this badly? Will he, by some miracle, find Larissa? Will he be able to bring her home? Or will he spend the rest of his short life searching The Plagued States Of America?
****This series is suitable for mature young adult through adult readers who enjoy postapocalyptal dystopian action adventure thriller mysteries where you never know what could be around the next corner :)
March 17, 2016
My collaborative review with B can be seen here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
http://knightingalereviews.blogspot.c...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
http://knightingalereviews.blogspot.c...
August 24, 2015
I received this as an arc from netgalley in exchanged for an honest review.
When tom, the son of a powerful senator, becomes stranded in the plagued states while searching for his lost sister, his only hope of survival rests in the hands of a few grizzled veteran zombie hunters and a mysterious half-breed zombie woman he thinks may know where to find his sister......
wow. Absolutely fantastic read.
I never read a zombie book before although i have watched the films. this was absolutely fantastic i loved it. This was book 1. i have purchased book 2.
If you love horror you will love this.
When tom, the son of a powerful senator, becomes stranded in the plagued states while searching for his lost sister, his only hope of survival rests in the hands of a few grizzled veteran zombie hunters and a mysterious half-breed zombie woman he thinks may know where to find his sister......
wow. Absolutely fantastic read.
I never read a zombie book before although i have watched the films. this was absolutely fantastic i loved it. This was book 1. i have purchased book 2.
If you love horror you will love this.
February 8, 2016
I absolutely love zombie books but having read nearly every zombie book I could find I have been having trouble finding ones that aren't exactly the same as every other one I have read. I was pleasantly surprised by this book normally the halfbreed zombie idea wouldn't appeal to me but I thought what the hell I will give it a shot. From the very first page it had me captivated the authors ideas were very unique in a genre that has pretty much covered all bases I loved it I will definitely read more from this author the writing is brilliant.
June 23, 2017
( Format : audiobook )
""Welcome to the Wild West, brother.""
Any additional comments?
Plagued, brings an horrifying new aspect to the zombie genre: the trading and use of them as slaves . The Synopsis given is full so I do not want to further rehearse the story which was exciting and action packed, though fairly short in length. As always, the narration by Mr.Wehrein was impeccable, clear, well paced with just the right dramatic emphasis and clear voicings for the individual characters. His reading most definitely enhances the experience.
I have not previously heard of the author, Better Hero Army, and I have the rights holder of Plagued to thank for introducing his work to me with this book, gifted to me via Audiobook Boom. I will certainly be watching out for more in this new zombie series by him as he has already inserted some intriguing ideas which need to be followed up in future stories: what happened in the original outbreak? How did the whole trader enterprise come about? The real story behind the half breeds? The zombie children, what more of them? The medical programme, what exactly does it do and how was it developed? All these, and more, have really piqued my interest as well as, of course, what happens next with Tom.
I hope to find out more in future books.
""Welcome to the Wild West, brother.""
Any additional comments?
Plagued, brings an horrifying new aspect to the zombie genre: the trading and use of them as slaves . The Synopsis given is full so I do not want to further rehearse the story which was exciting and action packed, though fairly short in length. As always, the narration by Mr.Wehrein was impeccable, clear, well paced with just the right dramatic emphasis and clear voicings for the individual characters. His reading most definitely enhances the experience.
I have not previously heard of the author, Better Hero Army, and I have the rights holder of Plagued to thank for introducing his work to me with this book, gifted to me via Audiobook Boom. I will certainly be watching out for more in this new zombie series by him as he has already inserted some intriguing ideas which need to be followed up in future stories: what happened in the original outbreak? How did the whole trader enterprise come about? The real story behind the half breeds? The zombie children, what more of them? The medical programme, what exactly does it do and how was it developed? All these, and more, have really piqued my interest as well as, of course, what happens next with Tom.
I hope to find out more in future books.
September 19, 2017
Good start to a series. Very entertaining and enjoyable. It pulled me in and kept my attention. I love all types of zombie books and this one has an interesting little twist on a zombie apocalypse.
Honestly, I wish it had been a little longer. When a story leaves you wanting more you know you enjoyed it. It's a series I would definitely like to hear more of and I'm looking forward to the next installment. It's the start of a series and it does leave you hanging.
Zombies, half-breed zombies, a cure and of coarse the government. What secret is the government hiding? Using zombies as workers and other things though is a risky business. One that definitely has some consequences.
Andrew B. Wehrlen does a great job with the narration as usual. His voice just draws you in and brings the characters and story to life. He has one of those voices that is perfect for narrating books. Really good character voices. Clearly spoken with a smooth even pace. He brings the characters and story to life through his narration. Hopefully he will continue to be the narrator for the rest of the series. Very enjoyable.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and voluntarily provided this review
Honestly, I wish it had been a little longer. When a story leaves you wanting more you know you enjoyed it. It's a series I would definitely like to hear more of and I'm looking forward to the next installment. It's the start of a series and it does leave you hanging.
Zombies, half-breed zombies, a cure and of coarse the government. What secret is the government hiding? Using zombies as workers and other things though is a risky business. One that definitely has some consequences.
Andrew B. Wehrlen does a great job with the narration as usual. His voice just draws you in and brings the characters and story to life. He has one of those voices that is perfect for narrating books. Really good character voices. Clearly spoken with a smooth even pace. He brings the characters and story to life through his narration. Hopefully he will continue to be the narrator for the rest of the series. Very enjoyable.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and voluntarily provided this review
June 21, 2025
*I received an audio version arc of this book via NetGalley. My review will be on the main Goodreads page as there is not a page for the audio version*
Outline:
Set in a dystopian future where undead dominate large swaths of America. Tom and his brother Gary have a mission set for them by their dad- to find their zombified younger sister Larissa after she was bitten under their care years prior. Their search takes them to a zombie-slave market town where they come across a mysterious half-breed who may know more than she can easily communicate. The brothers are separated, yet Tom stays true to his mission, but can he help this mysterious half undead woman along the way?
My review:
The plot of this is relatively entertaining- like a combination of Warm Bodies with a bit of Mad Max thrown in. The only downside was the cut off point. The end felt like it came half way through the book instead of at a natural end point.
Many characters didn’t feel fully fleshed out, especially the women, but this did not detract from the story.
The audiobook narration was in character and enjoyable. Michael Joss did a brilliant job.
Overall, the experience of listening to it was fine, but not one I would actively recommend. It lacked the depth of other zombie thrillers.
Outline:
Set in a dystopian future where undead dominate large swaths of America. Tom and his brother Gary have a mission set for them by their dad- to find their zombified younger sister Larissa after she was bitten under their care years prior. Their search takes them to a zombie-slave market town where they come across a mysterious half-breed who may know more than she can easily communicate. The brothers are separated, yet Tom stays true to his mission, but can he help this mysterious half undead woman along the way?
My review:
The plot of this is relatively entertaining- like a combination of Warm Bodies with a bit of Mad Max thrown in. The only downside was the cut off point. The end felt like it came half way through the book instead of at a natural end point.
Many characters didn’t feel fully fleshed out, especially the women, but this did not detract from the story.
The audiobook narration was in character and enjoyable. Michael Joss did a brilliant job.
Overall, the experience of listening to it was fine, but not one I would actively recommend. It lacked the depth of other zombie thrillers.
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