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Zombie West #1
Wanted: Dead or Undead
Trace Monroe doesn't believe in luck. He never has. But when a fiery-headed cowgirl saunters through the saloon doors, wielding shotguns and a know-how for killing the living dead, he believes he just may be the luckiest man alive.
Trace wants to join Red's posse, but she prefers to work alone--less messy that way. In order to become her traveling companion, Trace has to agree to her terms: no names, no questions, and if he gets bit, he can't beg for mercy when she severs his brain stem.
He agrees, knowing only that Red is the sharpest shooter he's ever encountered. The fact she's stunning hasn't escaped his attention either.
What he doesn't know, is that Red has a very good reason to be on top of her game. She not only has the answer for how they can all outlive the plague taking over the wild, wild west, she IS the answer.
Trace wants to join Red's posse, but she prefers to work alone--less messy that way. In order to become her traveling companion, Trace has to agree to her terms: no names, no questions, and if he gets bit, he can't beg for mercy when she severs his brain stem.
He agrees, knowing only that Red is the sharpest shooter he's ever encountered. The fact she's stunning hasn't escaped his attention either.
What he doesn't know, is that Red has a very good reason to be on top of her game. She not only has the answer for how they can all outlive the plague taking over the wild, wild west, she IS the answer.
210 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 18, 2012
About the author
Angela Scott
15 books570 followersI hear voices. Tiny fictional people sit on my shoulders and whisper their stories in my ear. Instead of medicating myself, I decided to pick up a pen, write down everything those voices tell me, and turn it into a book. I’m not crazy. I’m an author.
For the most part, I write contemporary Young Adult novels. However, through a writing exercise that spiraled out of control, I found myself writing about zombies terrorizing the Wild Wild West—and loving it. My zombies don’t sparkle, and they definitely don’t cuddle. At least, I wouldn’t suggest it.
I live on the benches of the beautiful Wasatch Mountains with two lovely children, one teenager, and a very patient husband. I graduated from Utah State University with a B.A. degree in English, not because of my love for the written word, but because it was the only major that didn’t require math. I can’t spell, and grammar is my arch nemesis. But they gave me the degree, and there are no take backs.
As a child, I never sucked on a pacifier; I chewed on a pencil. I’ve been writing that long. It has only been the past few years that I’ve pursued it professionally, forged relationships with other like-minded individuals, and determined to make a career out of it.
For the most part, I write contemporary Young Adult novels. However, through a writing exercise that spiraled out of control, I found myself writing about zombies terrorizing the Wild Wild West—and loving it. My zombies don’t sparkle, and they definitely don’t cuddle. At least, I wouldn’t suggest it.
I live on the benches of the beautiful Wasatch Mountains with two lovely children, one teenager, and a very patient husband. I graduated from Utah State University with a B.A. degree in English, not because of my love for the written word, but because it was the only major that didn’t require math. I can’t spell, and grammar is my arch nemesis. But they gave me the degree, and there are no take backs.
As a child, I never sucked on a pacifier; I chewed on a pencil. I’ve been writing that long. It has only been the past few years that I’ve pursued it professionally, forged relationships with other like-minded individuals, and determined to make a career out of it.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 139 reviews
March 25, 2012
Let me start by saying that this book is exactly what you'd want. You look at the title and the concept, and you think, "Wow, that's a cool idea," and you open the book and start reading, and it turns out that the book and idea ARE cool. No disappointment here: this one's a thrilling survival tale set in an apocalyptic Old West, and it's definitely worth the read.
Wanted's greatest strength is the main female character, Red. She's a tough, I-can-take-care-of-myself kind of hero, who increasingly attracts misfits and stragglers to her. She's formidable, both in how she handles a gun and how she deals with the traumas of her past. I found her a complex, compelling person whom I could trust to lead me on a rollicking and heart-felt adventure.
The other characters of the book were also intriguing. I liked how a family attached itself to Red and Trace, starting with Wen, the sword-wielding sidekick. One particularly effective moment was the stopover where the little girl Rivers and the little boy Fisher joined the group--it put a new twist on the term "terrible twos." Add in Caroline, Wen's love interest, and her father, Ira, and by the end of the book, Red and Trace have quite the community around them. I liked this focus on family, and it seemed wholly appropriate with the world is being eaten away by zombies.
The only minor weakness is the lean amount of context. I would have liked to know more about how the zombifying disease spread. We get a few glimpses here and there that seem to hint that the great migration to the West is because the disease hit the East Coast so hard. I think that's a fascinating idea, and would have liked to learn a few more details about that. In addition, I wish I could have gotten to know a little more about Trace's past. He pretty much appears at the beginning of the book, and that's the beginning of our knowledge of him. Some of his back story would have been nice.
All in all, however, Wanted: Dead or Undead is a fun, exciting ride that you're sure to enjoy. It should appeal to anyone who loves zombies, westerns, romance, or just a good story told well.
Wanted's greatest strength is the main female character, Red. She's a tough, I-can-take-care-of-myself kind of hero, who increasingly attracts misfits and stragglers to her. She's formidable, both in how she handles a gun and how she deals with the traumas of her past. I found her a complex, compelling person whom I could trust to lead me on a rollicking and heart-felt adventure.
The other characters of the book were also intriguing. I liked how a family attached itself to Red and Trace, starting with Wen, the sword-wielding sidekick. One particularly effective moment was the stopover where the little girl Rivers and the little boy Fisher joined the group--it put a new twist on the term "terrible twos." Add in Caroline, Wen's love interest, and her father, Ira, and by the end of the book, Red and Trace have quite the community around them. I liked this focus on family, and it seemed wholly appropriate with the world is being eaten away by zombies.
The only minor weakness is the lean amount of context. I would have liked to know more about how the zombifying disease spread. We get a few glimpses here and there that seem to hint that the great migration to the West is because the disease hit the East Coast so hard. I think that's a fascinating idea, and would have liked to learn a few more details about that. In addition, I wish I could have gotten to know a little more about Trace's past. He pretty much appears at the beginning of the book, and that's the beginning of our knowledge of him. Some of his back story would have been nice.
All in all, however, Wanted: Dead or Undead is a fun, exciting ride that you're sure to enjoy. It should appeal to anyone who loves zombies, westerns, romance, or just a good story told well.
June 18, 2012
Can I get a WOOHOO!!!! This book was one of the funnest reads I have read all year!!!
Red is not your typical quiet law abiding cowgirl. She is rough, tough, and what every cowboy wishes they were. I fell in love with her character from the start when she walked into a tavern and shot the zombie that no one else managed to take down. I mean come on who wouldn't love her just for that??!! Not to mention her hilarious honesty about making sure you have something to protect yourself even while taking a tinkle (she uses another word here, but I am trying to keep it clean lol). Seriously I love her! Her path crosses with another whom she calls Cowboy and they go on the run together to outrun the plague that has taken over the US. Along the way they meet a few friends and a few foes and one very, very scary woman. I not only loved Red, but I loved Cowboy and her their companions as well! Every character was unique and I am already so invested in every single one of them. Don't be fooled by my simple summary, the story is full of twists and turns that I can promise you you won't see coming at all. I was floored more than once and it was amazing!
I really cannot wait for the sequel! There are so many loose ends involving everybody that I am seriously on the edge of my seat!! I will say that westerns typically are not my thing. I usually pass them on by when I choose a new book to read, but I am so glad that I was handed this one. I can't say that I will pick up a western outside of this series anytime soon, but this has definitely changed my view point on them. I loved the setting so much!! Of course the whole zombie thing was really fun too, gruesome and scary but fun none the less lol.
Angela thank you so much for giving us the opportunity to read your amazing book!! It was fantastic and you are incredible!
Red is not your typical quiet law abiding cowgirl. She is rough, tough, and what every cowboy wishes they were. I fell in love with her character from the start when she walked into a tavern and shot the zombie that no one else managed to take down. I mean come on who wouldn't love her just for that??!! Not to mention her hilarious honesty about making sure you have something to protect yourself even while taking a tinkle (she uses another word here, but I am trying to keep it clean lol). Seriously I love her! Her path crosses with another whom she calls Cowboy and they go on the run together to outrun the plague that has taken over the US. Along the way they meet a few friends and a few foes and one very, very scary woman. I not only loved Red, but I loved Cowboy and her their companions as well! Every character was unique and I am already so invested in every single one of them. Don't be fooled by my simple summary, the story is full of twists and turns that I can promise you you won't see coming at all. I was floored more than once and it was amazing!
I really cannot wait for the sequel! There are so many loose ends involving everybody that I am seriously on the edge of my seat!! I will say that westerns typically are not my thing. I usually pass them on by when I choose a new book to read, but I am so glad that I was handed this one. I can't say that I will pick up a western outside of this series anytime soon, but this has definitely changed my view point on them. I loved the setting so much!! Of course the whole zombie thing was really fun too, gruesome and scary but fun none the less lol.
Angela thank you so much for giving us the opportunity to read your amazing book!! It was fantastic and you are incredible!
March 21, 2012
Dear Lord, When the world finally comes to an end…let it be with zombie! Sincerely – Me
For those of you that have been following for a while, chances are you know almost everything there is to know about me. 1. I love gummy bears. I think they should be considered a food group and be a required daily dietary need. 2. I have a very hard time keeping my feet still. It’s a curse, the more I think the more they wiggle and at some point I might actually take flight. 3. I love zombies!
Now, while number 3 might not shock you all that much, this might. I LOOOOOVE westerns. “WHAT?!” You say. Yep! Though I rarely talk about them and (to date) I don’t think I’ve reviewed a single damn one, I love them! So when Angela Scott emailed me last week and asked if I’d like to give her new Western Zombie book a shot (get it…shot. ha!) I replied with a “Hell Yeah! Send Immediately!!”
I know what you are thinking. “Zombies and Cowboys? That’s almost as bad as Cowboys and Aliens!”
First off… Cowboys and Aliens rocks, so back up off it! Second, yes…Zombies and Cowboys baby! Read it and weep people as you are thrown head first into a wildly entertaining mix of “The Walking Dead” meets “Hell on Wheels.” (<–now that is a spicy meatball!)
“Trace Monroe doesn’t believe in luck. He never has. But when a fiery-headed cowgirl saunters through the saloon doors, wielding shotguns and a know-how for killing the living dead, he believes he just may be the luckiest man alive.
Trace wants to join Red’s posse, but she prefers to work alone—less messy that way. In order to become her traveling companion, Trace has to agree to her terms: no names, no questions, and if he gets bit, he can’t beg for mercy when she severs his brain stem.
He agrees, knowing only that Red is the sharpest shooter he’s ever encountered. The fact she’s stunning hasn’t escaped his attention either.
What he doesn’t know, is that Red has a very good reason to be on top of her game. She not only has the answer for how they can all outlive the plague taking over the wild, wild west, she IS the answer.”
Before you get all hoity toity with me and demand that this book sounds more like a love story than a round ‘em up, shoot ‘em down western, it’s both. As a matter of fact…despite it somewhat flowery synopsis, (“The fact she’s stunning hasn’t escaped his attention”) it’s actually kind of gross. (In a totally awesome zombie way.)
Don’t believe me? Ok…I’ll prove it.
“At first he didn’t see her. The headless bodies littered the ground like a forest of hewn down trees. Mounds of zombie corpses were splayed in various directions with broken, mangled limbs. Decapitated heads stared upward with wide, milky eyes and jaws that hung from broken pivots in an eternal, silent moan. Thick, soupy blood poured from the necks of the severed bodies, merging into one giant lake of blackened red.”
Kinda makes you hungry doesn’t it? *wink*
The fantastically gruesome descriptions are not what drives this book though, (although man are they fabulous) the mystery behind Red does. It’s not all that hard to peg Red’s personality, she is stubborn and very independent, but regardless of the picture Scott painted (with her deep and captivating character development,) it’s what she DOESN’T tell you that will keep your fingers aching to turn the page. There is something wrong with Red, and as much as we love her…I have a feeling by the time the series is all said and done, we are going to find ourselves on the other side of that fence.
What about the plot? Well…it’s zombies for Christ sake so 85% of it is going to be focused on getting away from or killing them, (helloooo machete!) but there is a sub-plot, (a swoon worthy, hell bent on revenge, holy shit that is my brother) sub plot that is going to get very complicated in the next few books. (Several characters were introduced but not explained – think backgrounds.) And as much as I don’t want to tell you this (cause it’s kind of a spoiler) the book ends with the Zombies still having the upper hand. *rubs palms together in anticipation*
So…was it worth all of the excitement that I had going into it? I’m going to go with yes. It was well written, well plotted and VERY entertaining (even the lovey dovey aspects of it!) If you like a good shoot out, and zombies trying to eat your brains for brunch, pick it up…you won’t be sorry.
For those of you that have been following for a while, chances are you know almost everything there is to know about me. 1. I love gummy bears. I think they should be considered a food group and be a required daily dietary need. 2. I have a very hard time keeping my feet still. It’s a curse, the more I think the more they wiggle and at some point I might actually take flight. 3. I love zombies!
Now, while number 3 might not shock you all that much, this might. I LOOOOOVE westerns. “WHAT?!” You say. Yep! Though I rarely talk about them and (to date) I don’t think I’ve reviewed a single damn one, I love them! So when Angela Scott emailed me last week and asked if I’d like to give her new Western Zombie book a shot (get it…shot. ha!) I replied with a “Hell Yeah! Send Immediately!!”
I know what you are thinking. “Zombies and Cowboys? That’s almost as bad as Cowboys and Aliens!”
First off… Cowboys and Aliens rocks, so back up off it! Second, yes…Zombies and Cowboys baby! Read it and weep people as you are thrown head first into a wildly entertaining mix of “The Walking Dead” meets “Hell on Wheels.” (<–now that is a spicy meatball!)
“Trace Monroe doesn’t believe in luck. He never has. But when a fiery-headed cowgirl saunters through the saloon doors, wielding shotguns and a know-how for killing the living dead, he believes he just may be the luckiest man alive.
Trace wants to join Red’s posse, but she prefers to work alone—less messy that way. In order to become her traveling companion, Trace has to agree to her terms: no names, no questions, and if he gets bit, he can’t beg for mercy when she severs his brain stem.
He agrees, knowing only that Red is the sharpest shooter he’s ever encountered. The fact she’s stunning hasn’t escaped his attention either.
What he doesn’t know, is that Red has a very good reason to be on top of her game. She not only has the answer for how they can all outlive the plague taking over the wild, wild west, she IS the answer.”
Before you get all hoity toity with me and demand that this book sounds more like a love story than a round ‘em up, shoot ‘em down western, it’s both. As a matter of fact…despite it somewhat flowery synopsis, (“The fact she’s stunning hasn’t escaped his attention”) it’s actually kind of gross. (In a totally awesome zombie way.)
Don’t believe me? Ok…I’ll prove it.
“At first he didn’t see her. The headless bodies littered the ground like a forest of hewn down trees. Mounds of zombie corpses were splayed in various directions with broken, mangled limbs. Decapitated heads stared upward with wide, milky eyes and jaws that hung from broken pivots in an eternal, silent moan. Thick, soupy blood poured from the necks of the severed bodies, merging into one giant lake of blackened red.”
Kinda makes you hungry doesn’t it? *wink*
The fantastically gruesome descriptions are not what drives this book though, (although man are they fabulous) the mystery behind Red does. It’s not all that hard to peg Red’s personality, she is stubborn and very independent, but regardless of the picture Scott painted (with her deep and captivating character development,) it’s what she DOESN’T tell you that will keep your fingers aching to turn the page. There is something wrong with Red, and as much as we love her…I have a feeling by the time the series is all said and done, we are going to find ourselves on the other side of that fence.
What about the plot? Well…it’s zombies for Christ sake so 85% of it is going to be focused on getting away from or killing them, (helloooo machete!) but there is a sub-plot, (a swoon worthy, hell bent on revenge, holy shit that is my brother) sub plot that is going to get very complicated in the next few books. (Several characters were introduced but not explained – think backgrounds.) And as much as I don’t want to tell you this (cause it’s kind of a spoiler) the book ends with the Zombies still having the upper hand. *rubs palms together in anticipation*
So…was it worth all of the excitement that I had going into it? I’m going to go with yes. It was well written, well plotted and VERY entertaining (even the lovey dovey aspects of it!) If you like a good shoot out, and zombies trying to eat your brains for brunch, pick it up…you won’t be sorry.
January 12, 2015
For all the Zombie readin' I've done, I can't recall ever having read a Zombie Western, so was kind of excited to find this one offered on Kindle for free.
The book starts out with a minor editing issue on the very first page, and I thought, 'Oh, here we go...' Please, please, please...authors...have your work edited. By several keen eyes! When I see an editing issue, it is usually game-over; I keep reading to find issues...not for the enjoyment of the story.
Once I got past the spelling oversight, I dove into this story and really had a difficult time putting it down. There's nothing new or unique zombie-wise going on here, but the author, Angela Scott, is a capable story-teller and creates convincing characters. There were several 'OH NO' and 'Oh, she did not just write that!' moments. The book leaves off, letting you know there is #2 to look forward to.
A very quick 300 page book...and yes, I'm looking forward to #2. :)
The book starts out with a minor editing issue on the very first page, and I thought, 'Oh, here we go...' Please, please, please...authors...have your work edited. By several keen eyes! When I see an editing issue, it is usually game-over; I keep reading to find issues...not for the enjoyment of the story.
Once I got past the spelling oversight, I dove into this story and really had a difficult time putting it down. There's nothing new or unique zombie-wise going on here, but the author, Angela Scott, is a capable story-teller and creates convincing characters. There were several 'OH NO' and 'Oh, she did not just write that!' moments. The book leaves off, letting you know there is #2 to look forward to.
A very quick 300 page book...and yes, I'm looking forward to #2. :)
March 22, 2012
I received this book as a gift from the author for my review.
Wanted: Dead or Undead. I have to admit I started reading this expecting a zombie western with lots of eating and being eaten along with some humor. What I got was so much more.
The story starts with a nail-biting scene that leaves you with no choice but to continue reading.
Trace is an opportunist, a card shark and a bit of a trickster. All he wants is to stroll through life with no complications. That wasn't hard until the zombies started moving westward.
Red is a no-nonsense woman on a mission. Moving west towards California, she is hoping to find her brother. He joined the cavalry to fight the zombies and she hasn't heard from him since.
The zombie plague has consumed the larger cities on either coast and is rapidly extending to the midwest.
Thrown together by a chance encounter, Trace and Red slowly begin to trust each other. They will have to in order to survive. As they travel westward, their group of two slowly grows along with their attraction to each other. They both have secrets kept to themselves for fear they will shatter the tenuous bond growing between them.
Angela Scott takes her time developing the characters and establishing her story, weaving in new characters along with their stories, and building genuine relationships. The scenes were so well written that I would swear I was there. I shuddered in horror, feared the worst, and sighed in delight.
The cliff-hanger ending left my jaw dropping in surprise, already anticipating more.
I will be looking for the next book in the series, Survivor Roundup Book 2
I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a great read and a new series!
Wanted: Dead or Undead. I have to admit I started reading this expecting a zombie western with lots of eating and being eaten along with some humor. What I got was so much more.
The story starts with a nail-biting scene that leaves you with no choice but to continue reading.
Trace is an opportunist, a card shark and a bit of a trickster. All he wants is to stroll through life with no complications. That wasn't hard until the zombies started moving westward.
Red is a no-nonsense woman on a mission. Moving west towards California, she is hoping to find her brother. He joined the cavalry to fight the zombies and she hasn't heard from him since.
The zombie plague has consumed the larger cities on either coast and is rapidly extending to the midwest.
Thrown together by a chance encounter, Trace and Red slowly begin to trust each other. They will have to in order to survive. As they travel westward, their group of two slowly grows along with their attraction to each other. They both have secrets kept to themselves for fear they will shatter the tenuous bond growing between them.
Angela Scott takes her time developing the characters and establishing her story, weaving in new characters along with their stories, and building genuine relationships. The scenes were so well written that I would swear I was there. I shuddered in horror, feared the worst, and sighed in delight.
The cliff-hanger ending left my jaw dropping in surprise, already anticipating more.
I will be looking for the next book in the series, Survivor Roundup Book 2
I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a great read and a new series!
April 8, 2012
I read this book because when I saw the tweet for it, I thought " Zombies and Cowboys! Eye roll. " That probably sucks. " I was pleasantly surprised. It's the story of Red and Cowboy. ( They have real names but they are " Red and Cowboy") Cowboy is your typical southern city boy. He likes his creature comforts and hates " roughing it " Red is tough, beautiful and smart as heck. She has survived her entire family all of who died by her hand. She is also hiding a very large, very dangerous secret that will knock your socks off. This book is full of twists and turns that will keep you up all night. ( I was up till 1:30am. But I had to finish before I could sleep. ) For those die hard zombie fans, It has your typical Zombie lore and the struggle of those left behind but the author has thrown in a few curve balls to keep ya on your toes. It's like The Good, The Bad and The Ugly meets The Walking Dead. I loved it! Plain and simple. You will not want their story to end and the best part is... It continues in the second installment " Survivor Round- Up " which I fully intend to read as well. Expect review to follow. Any books written by Angela Scott will now be on my to- read list.
March 27, 2012
Excellent vision of a bizarre, zombie-infested wild west. Strong-but-still-vulnerable heroine is helped by a fascinating supporting cast. The start of what may be an interesting series. (Graphic violence, folks. It's a zombie book.)
March 27, 2012
This weekend, I read Angela Scott's book Wanted: Dead or Undead, and I loved it.
I award it five stars out of five. It's a quick, smooth, entertaining read. The first thing that amazed me was the language. Angela creates a southern accent in everything, including the prose between all of the dialogue. It isn't annoying. Rather, for me it immerses me completely in the atmosphere of this apocalyptic world.
Several times, I found myself picturing some of the old west skits in the classic Star Trek series. The zombies were so gross and so evil, that even when they weren't attacking, I could feel their presence in the world. I knew that this wasn't a traditional western...and that's why I kind of pictured the Star Trek westerns in my head as opposed to real westerns (like the kind Clint Eastwood makes). Things were just different. One stepped removed from what I was used to. And it had the effect of making everything fresh and exciting.
Angela approaches zombie lore in a brilliant way. Her heroine (Elisabeth a.k.a. Red) is like a composition of Michonne from the Walking Dead and Sara played by Shirley MacLaine in the movie Two Mules for Sister Sara.
Angela approaches her zombie apocalypse like most writers. She doesn't explain it. And the story is about survival. Where it gets clever, is how the characters survive and through the strange powers that Red manifests.
The tale doesn't get too scary. But there are definitely some shocking moments. And Angela does not hold back on the gore. But honestly...who reads a zombie story and doesn't want gore?
I award it five stars out of five. It's a quick, smooth, entertaining read. The first thing that amazed me was the language. Angela creates a southern accent in everything, including the prose between all of the dialogue. It isn't annoying. Rather, for me it immerses me completely in the atmosphere of this apocalyptic world.
Several times, I found myself picturing some of the old west skits in the classic Star Trek series. The zombies were so gross and so evil, that even when they weren't attacking, I could feel their presence in the world. I knew that this wasn't a traditional western...and that's why I kind of pictured the Star Trek westerns in my head as opposed to real westerns (like the kind Clint Eastwood makes). Things were just different. One stepped removed from what I was used to. And it had the effect of making everything fresh and exciting.
Angela approaches zombie lore in a brilliant way. Her heroine (Elisabeth a.k.a. Red) is like a composition of Michonne from the Walking Dead and Sara played by Shirley MacLaine in the movie Two Mules for Sister Sara.
Angela approaches her zombie apocalypse like most writers. She doesn't explain it. And the story is about survival. Where it gets clever, is how the characters survive and through the strange powers that Red manifests.
The tale doesn't get too scary. But there are definitely some shocking moments. And Angela does not hold back on the gore. But honestly...who reads a zombie story and doesn't want gore?
March 21, 2012
I didn't know what to think when I started to read this book. The zombie apocalypse is all the rage right now and I've read a few books and watched a few different TV shows and movies. So it caught me off guard that this book wasn't just another tale of survival. More than once I was surprised by the turn of events. Just when I thought I could guess which direction the story was going to turn, it turned out the author had something else in mind. The balance between zombie-smashing action and character involvement was perfect for me. The only grumble I had was that it ended too soon.
March 29, 2012
Loved it...read it in 2 days. I couldn't put it down...RED is my favorite character and I'm very anxious for book 2. Hurry up already!!! The idea of Zombie's and the old west intrigued me and the story blew my mind. There are no words.
March 23, 2012
Wanted: Dead or Undead was such an entertaining novel. I might have to rave about this one. So, as you might guess it’s a five star read.
It was just like watching a movie, only better. From the moment I started reading it I felt like I could have been watching an old western. Only it was a western with zombies. It was so visual.
Set in the old west, the novel begins as any western might. There’s a crisis. A little boy calls to his sister for help. Immediately the sister drops everything and rushes to his aid. Little does she know, it’s already too late...
It’s heart-breaking. It’s violent. It’s a western. With zombies.
First off, the action sequences were superb. Be it on the cold unforgiving ground or in the back of a covered wagon, body parts flew and blood was splattered. True to a zombie thriller, there were scenes of dismemberment, biting and even ninja like zombie decapitation. In places it was just plain gruesome. Yet it all fit so very seamlessly into the western genre. There was plenty of gun slinging. Desperate shootouts and fingers poised on triggers. There were stone cold, poker faced death stares shared between characters and ...
Ah yes, the characters. They were such personalities. Individual, yet timeless. And as the makeshift posse of zombie plague survivors forms, the reader gets introduced to several of them.
Elizabeth Storey is a hardened zombie killing cowgirl in search of her brother. Trace Munroe is something of a shiftless gambler with a talent for talking his way out of a situation. Both have secrets. Neither are very hard on the eyes. So when the two team up to further their own goals, it’s not surprising when a complicated romance develops. The romance is developed slowly over the course of the story, but it’s well paced.
What amazed me the most was the author’s ability to create images the reader can pull off the pages. I’m not saying there’s an excess of description. On the contrary, the visual quality was created with a perfect use of tone and skillful choice of words. I was amazed. It was very well written.
Currently the Kindle version is available for $4.99 on Amazon. It’s well worth every penny. I recommend it to readers in many age groups who enjoy a good story, a little humour, gore and romance.
On a personal note, while I do enjoy a few zombie thrillers a year, my experience with westerns and cross genre novels has been more limited. Of course I have read the odd Louis L’Amour, and watched movies like True Grit and The Warrior. However, Wanted: Dead or Undead was just so much fun it really made me think. Could every genre be improved just by adding zombies?
It was just like watching a movie, only better. From the moment I started reading it I felt like I could have been watching an old western. Only it was a western with zombies. It was so visual.
Set in the old west, the novel begins as any western might. There’s a crisis. A little boy calls to his sister for help. Immediately the sister drops everything and rushes to his aid. Little does she know, it’s already too late...
It’s heart-breaking. It’s violent. It’s a western. With zombies.
First off, the action sequences were superb. Be it on the cold unforgiving ground or in the back of a covered wagon, body parts flew and blood was splattered. True to a zombie thriller, there were scenes of dismemberment, biting and even ninja like zombie decapitation. In places it was just plain gruesome. Yet it all fit so very seamlessly into the western genre. There was plenty of gun slinging. Desperate shootouts and fingers poised on triggers. There were stone cold, poker faced death stares shared between characters and ...
Ah yes, the characters. They were such personalities. Individual, yet timeless. And as the makeshift posse of zombie plague survivors forms, the reader gets introduced to several of them.
Elizabeth Storey is a hardened zombie killing cowgirl in search of her brother. Trace Munroe is something of a shiftless gambler with a talent for talking his way out of a situation. Both have secrets. Neither are very hard on the eyes. So when the two team up to further their own goals, it’s not surprising when a complicated romance develops. The romance is developed slowly over the course of the story, but it’s well paced.
What amazed me the most was the author’s ability to create images the reader can pull off the pages. I’m not saying there’s an excess of description. On the contrary, the visual quality was created with a perfect use of tone and skillful choice of words. I was amazed. It was very well written.
Currently the Kindle version is available for $4.99 on Amazon. It’s well worth every penny. I recommend it to readers in many age groups who enjoy a good story, a little humour, gore and romance.
On a personal note, while I do enjoy a few zombie thrillers a year, my experience with westerns and cross genre novels has been more limited. Of course I have read the odd Louis L’Amour, and watched movies like True Grit and The Warrior. However, Wanted: Dead or Undead was just so much fun it really made me think. Could every genre be improved just by adding zombies?
April 5, 2012
I think Angela accomplished exactly what she set out to accomplish for a YA Western Zombie Romance. In all truth, my reading preferences only interest me into the zombie category and a curiosity for how she could combine these genres. That fact that I finished it is an incredible testimony; I normally tire of YA books before the first chapter is over. The prologue starts this book off with more balls than I expected from a YA, and then surprised me with how easily I fell for the two main characters. By the time you hit the twist, it's all over, you're hooked.
I am not the type of zombie reader that only reads zombie books, but I was quite surprised by the twist she spins on the zombie virus; and yet it seems so obvious, I can't believe I haven't read someone else try this take.
I'm not really a fan of westerns either, though that's more a product of my generation choosing Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles over Bonanza. That said, I enjoy post-apocalyptic settings, and found the Wild West spin on that refreshing. There are safe zone towns, but those fall quick because keeping the infected out before they turn is difficult, maybe more so in this level of infrastructure and technology. I liked the wagon train scene and just the idea of pretending I'm on horseback shooting zombies and yelling "Yee-ha!" The teenage samurai was a nice touch as well.
While I can't really fault Angela for anything in this book, my only criticism is that I wasn't ever really scared. I don't fault her on this because the book is YA, and not meant to scare like some darker zombie books. Angela's book requires zombies to evoke the character trials that keep us tethered to the end, but it isn't as much about the zombies being scary as it is about being scared that the two love interests won't be together. The zombies create a situation that threatens to pull them apart, but the real conflict is in their hearts not beating together. This book is about what these two characters need to change about themselves in order to find that happy ending together.
How Angela was able to smoothly thread these two character struggles into a worthwhile and powerful emotional investment is why I finished it, but I can't say that I loved it because I don't like how the zombie stuff wasn't scary.
This isn't my favorite book, but if you fit into the YA Western Zombie Romance audience, this book will likely become yours.
I am not the type of zombie reader that only reads zombie books, but I was quite surprised by the twist she spins on the zombie virus; and yet it seems so obvious, I can't believe I haven't read someone else try this take.
I'm not really a fan of westerns either, though that's more a product of my generation choosing Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles over Bonanza. That said, I enjoy post-apocalyptic settings, and found the Wild West spin on that refreshing. There are safe zone towns, but those fall quick because keeping the infected out before they turn is difficult, maybe more so in this level of infrastructure and technology. I liked the wagon train scene and just the idea of pretending I'm on horseback shooting zombies and yelling "Yee-ha!" The teenage samurai was a nice touch as well.
While I can't really fault Angela for anything in this book, my only criticism is that I wasn't ever really scared. I don't fault her on this because the book is YA, and not meant to scare like some darker zombie books. Angela's book requires zombies to evoke the character trials that keep us tethered to the end, but it isn't as much about the zombies being scary as it is about being scared that the two love interests won't be together. The zombies create a situation that threatens to pull them apart, but the real conflict is in their hearts not beating together. This book is about what these two characters need to change about themselves in order to find that happy ending together.
How Angela was able to smoothly thread these two character struggles into a worthwhile and powerful emotional investment is why I finished it, but I can't say that I loved it because I don't like how the zombie stuff wasn't scary.
This isn't my favorite book, but if you fit into the YA Western Zombie Romance audience, this book will likely become yours.
April 3, 2012
Trace Monroe is an adventure seeker and is handy with a deck of cards. While gaming inside a saloon, he runs into a gun-wielding, red-headed cowgirl. What’s unique about this no-nonsense female is that she knows how to kill the living dead. Trace latches on to ‘Red’, despite her aversion to him, and soon discovers her well-kept secret. Knowing what he does, will he forgo the price on her head and let his protective instincts win or will he give in to greed?
PLAYERS: Red is smart, self-sufficient and prickly. She prefers to work alone killing zombies. That’s until Trace comes on the scene and refuses to be shaken loose. Red has a hard exterior that comes from necessity, and hides her vulnerability well.
Trace, at first glance, is an opportunist. He too is smart, but he’s also caring and takes family, friendship and responsibility seriously.
I liked so many things about this novel. How Trace eventually wormed his way into Red’s confidence through persistence and handles responsibility when it is thrown at him. The writer shows how good things come from cooperation and builds a strong bond between the characters, who come from diverse backgrounds.
I could have lived without the ‘eeewww’ factor that comes with zombie novels, but feel free to ignore this particular comment. That’s why this is a zombie novel, right? The author does a good job bringing across the gooey, nasty, stink factor that is synonymous with zombies.
OVERALL COMMENTS: Wanted: Dead or Undead is very easy to read. The writer tells an intriguing story, the pacing is good and the characters are people I’ve come to care about. The writer painted vivid word pictures of the world that is the Wild West and made the zombies fit right into the landscape. She created such an interesting cast of characters that I can’t wait for the second book in the series to come out. I’m not a fan of zombie fiction. I couldn’t understand what the fuss was all about and I never thought I’d say this, but Ms. Scott has ‘turned’ me into a zombie story fan. Do yourself a favour and download this novel, if you haven’t read it already.
COVER NOTE: I like the cover and think it represents the story well. Also had a peek at the cover for the Upcoming Story, Survivor Roundup and think it’s pretty cool too.
See full review here ==> http://readerssuite.blogspot.com/2012...
PLAYERS: Red is smart, self-sufficient and prickly. She prefers to work alone killing zombies. That’s until Trace comes on the scene and refuses to be shaken loose. Red has a hard exterior that comes from necessity, and hides her vulnerability well.
Trace, at first glance, is an opportunist. He too is smart, but he’s also caring and takes family, friendship and responsibility seriously.
I liked so many things about this novel. How Trace eventually wormed his way into Red’s confidence through persistence and handles responsibility when it is thrown at him. The writer shows how good things come from cooperation and builds a strong bond between the characters, who come from diverse backgrounds.
I could have lived without the ‘eeewww’ factor that comes with zombie novels, but feel free to ignore this particular comment. That’s why this is a zombie novel, right? The author does a good job bringing across the gooey, nasty, stink factor that is synonymous with zombies.
OVERALL COMMENTS: Wanted: Dead or Undead is very easy to read. The writer tells an intriguing story, the pacing is good and the characters are people I’ve come to care about. The writer painted vivid word pictures of the world that is the Wild West and made the zombies fit right into the landscape. She created such an interesting cast of characters that I can’t wait for the second book in the series to come out. I’m not a fan of zombie fiction. I couldn’t understand what the fuss was all about and I never thought I’d say this, but Ms. Scott has ‘turned’ me into a zombie story fan. Do yourself a favour and download this novel, if you haven’t read it already.
COVER NOTE: I like the cover and think it represents the story well. Also had a peek at the cover for the Upcoming Story, Survivor Roundup and think it’s pretty cool too.
See full review here ==> http://readerssuite.blogspot.com/2012...
June 1, 2013
I really enjoyed reading this book. Much more than I tought I would. I have to admit, I was genuinely suprised because if I would have to be honest, I tought this book wouldn't be good. Turned out I was wrong. I was sucked into a whole new world. A world where there's a war between the dead and the undead.
The main character, Red, was strong, stubborn, undependent and a little bit complex, wich made her all the more interesting because even tought she was everything a cowboy could only wish to be, she was human (mostly), she made mistakes, she wasn't perfect and that alone made this story so realistic, even when it's all about the zombies.
Another really good thing about this book are the twists and turns. I didn't think it was possible to have so much twists without the plot becoming too complicated. The story wasn't predictable. Normaly when I read a book I'm like: "okay, now this is going to happen, than this, than that, and than the story will be finished and everyone will be happy,..." But it wasn't anything like it, it really wasn't. Instead I found myself thinking: "O God, what is going to happen next?" the whole freaking time. I just couldn't put the book away, wanting to now what was going to happen next, how the book would end...
The one thing I loved the most about this book was simply: NO INSTANT LOVE!!!! You could actually see the realtionship building between the two main characters. I think you could say; everyone saw it coming since there's always some love in a story but I have to admit, when Caroline was introduced, I was kind of doubting, afraid, she would ruin it and we would come to the conclusion that Trace had never loved Red.
I want to read the sequel as soon as possible. I don't really want to wait, but hey, we can't get everything we want =)
From now on Angela Scott is one of my favorite authors.
I still have one question tough. In the book was said that Caroline was one year older than Trace. But how old are Trace or even Wed for that matter? We know Red was around 18 or 19 but is that it? Or did I miss something. Not that it really matters or anything. I'm just curious.
The main character, Red, was strong, stubborn, undependent and a little bit complex, wich made her all the more interesting because even tought she was everything a cowboy could only wish to be, she was human (mostly), she made mistakes, she wasn't perfect and that alone made this story so realistic, even when it's all about the zombies.
Another really good thing about this book are the twists and turns. I didn't think it was possible to have so much twists without the plot becoming too complicated. The story wasn't predictable. Normaly when I read a book I'm like: "okay, now this is going to happen, than this, than that, and than the story will be finished and everyone will be happy,..." But it wasn't anything like it, it really wasn't. Instead I found myself thinking: "O God, what is going to happen next?" the whole freaking time. I just couldn't put the book away, wanting to now what was going to happen next, how the book would end...
The one thing I loved the most about this book was simply: NO INSTANT LOVE!!!! You could actually see the realtionship building between the two main characters. I think you could say; everyone saw it coming since there's always some love in a story but I have to admit, when Caroline was introduced, I was kind of doubting, afraid, she would ruin it and we would come to the conclusion that Trace had never loved Red.
I want to read the sequel as soon as possible. I don't really want to wait, but hey, we can't get everything we want =)
From now on Angela Scott is one of my favorite authors.
I still have one question tough. In the book was said that Caroline was one year older than Trace. But how old are Trace or even Wed for that matter? We know Red was around 18 or 19 but is that it? Or did I miss something. Not that it really matters or anything. I'm just curious.
June 15, 2012
I love the experimentation that has been going on for a while now.
"Experimentation?" you ask.
Yes, experimentation. Specifically in the meshing of genres that might not have happened otherwise. In this case the merging of a Western with Zombie Horror.
In many ways, the stereotypical old west cowboy (from the movies now, not necessarily reality) is the ideal combatant for the zombie. Fast draw with the six gun. Deadly accuracy with the rifle. It should be no big deal to plug a zombie in the head, right?
Except, in reality, not everyone was a gunfighter or a marksman. Most people were the normal, hardworking citizens all around us today.
And so it is with this book.
There are some of the aforementioned gunfighters who are able to deal with the zombie menace in a very final way. More often, the folk who are attacked by the undead are completely unprepared.
The United States (or at least a small portion of it) serves as the backdrop for this novel. Humanity has been having a very rough go of it and it looks like the zombies are winning.
The book focuses in on a saloon where our two main characters have a chance encounter. A zombie attack in the saloon eventually brings them together.
In case you are wondering, this is not a fun book. People suffer and die. It is very much the apocalypse you might imagine.
And it is a wonderful read.
The characters all have very real hopes, fears, motivations and dreams. They grow throughout the story and left me always looking to see what they would do next. Their relationships are imperfect at best and the little group always seems to be on the verge of implosion, much like some families.
It feels real and well-realized and I was invested in the characters.
I finished the story and, while it was complete, I was left wanting more. Exactly what I was hoping for.
Is it worth your time? I certainly think so. The book was always in the back of my mind when I had to put it down and I put aside my routines so I could "read just one more page".
"Experimentation?" you ask.
Yes, experimentation. Specifically in the meshing of genres that might not have happened otherwise. In this case the merging of a Western with Zombie Horror.
In many ways, the stereotypical old west cowboy (from the movies now, not necessarily reality) is the ideal combatant for the zombie. Fast draw with the six gun. Deadly accuracy with the rifle. It should be no big deal to plug a zombie in the head, right?
Except, in reality, not everyone was a gunfighter or a marksman. Most people were the normal, hardworking citizens all around us today.
And so it is with this book.
There are some of the aforementioned gunfighters who are able to deal with the zombie menace in a very final way. More often, the folk who are attacked by the undead are completely unprepared.
The United States (or at least a small portion of it) serves as the backdrop for this novel. Humanity has been having a very rough go of it and it looks like the zombies are winning.
The book focuses in on a saloon where our two main characters have a chance encounter. A zombie attack in the saloon eventually brings them together.
In case you are wondering, this is not a fun book. People suffer and die. It is very much the apocalypse you might imagine.
And it is a wonderful read.
The characters all have very real hopes, fears, motivations and dreams. They grow throughout the story and left me always looking to see what they would do next. Their relationships are imperfect at best and the little group always seems to be on the verge of implosion, much like some families.
It feels real and well-realized and I was invested in the characters.
I finished the story and, while it was complete, I was left wanting more. Exactly what I was hoping for.
Is it worth your time? I certainly think so. The book was always in the back of my mind when I had to put it down and I put aside my routines so I could "read just one more page".
December 7, 2012
Recently, I like to read zombie novels, more than fantasy (but, fantasy is still my favorite genre) and when this book came for review, I just accepted. And I am glad I did.
Set in a post-apocalyptic zombie world, this novel focuses on a group of people, trying not to get infected and stay alive. Red, the heroine of this novel, is tough, independent and no-nonsense type. Trace is a guy, who starts following Red, after she kills a zombie in a tavern, when all other men failed to do so. Trace also knows that Red has a bounty placed on her head and tries to get Red to the city and get his money. Red, knowing nothing about Trace's intentions, just tries to get rid of him. During their journey, there are so many survivors here and there, who got themselves attached to Red and Trace and before Red knows it, soon they are like a family. But, Red has her own secrets...
Okay, I know what you think - zombies and cowboys? (I can even see your eye roll..) Because I just did that, when I heard that. But, I really was surprised to see that this novel gives you a good reading time. In fact, this is the first western novel that I review.
The plot is fast, original and well-developed and the writing is great. The character development is good and I loved almost all the characters. The trust, friendship and romance is all non-cheesy (and that's a good thing). This is a different approach to regular zombie novels and that's really appreciated. The romance part is tender and sweet. Enjoyed this page turner!
My only complaint is this - I am not scared. Yeah, there are some gruesome descriptions, but I am not sure, why I don't feel that I-love-being-scared-of-zombies thing. Other than that, I liked this book and definitely would like to continue this series.
Overall, this book created a feeling of sunniness while reading, and that alone should be enough for me to recommend it.
Recommended for zombie western romance readers!
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For reviews and more, go to Books Are Magic.
Set in a post-apocalyptic zombie world, this novel focuses on a group of people, trying not to get infected and stay alive. Red, the heroine of this novel, is tough, independent and no-nonsense type. Trace is a guy, who starts following Red, after she kills a zombie in a tavern, when all other men failed to do so. Trace also knows that Red has a bounty placed on her head and tries to get Red to the city and get his money. Red, knowing nothing about Trace's intentions, just tries to get rid of him. During their journey, there are so many survivors here and there, who got themselves attached to Red and Trace and before Red knows it, soon they are like a family. But, Red has her own secrets...
Okay, I know what you think - zombies and cowboys? (I can even see your eye roll..) Because I just did that, when I heard that. But, I really was surprised to see that this novel gives you a good reading time. In fact, this is the first western novel that I review.
The plot is fast, original and well-developed and the writing is great. The character development is good and I loved almost all the characters. The trust, friendship and romance is all non-cheesy (and that's a good thing). This is a different approach to regular zombie novels and that's really appreciated. The romance part is tender and sweet. Enjoyed this page turner!
My only complaint is this - I am not scared. Yeah, there are some gruesome descriptions, but I am not sure, why I don't feel that I-love-being-scared-of-zombies thing. Other than that, I liked this book and definitely would like to continue this series.
Overall, this book created a feeling of sunniness while reading, and that alone should be enough for me to recommend it.
Recommended for zombie western romance readers!
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For reviews and more, go to Books Are Magic.
June 24, 2012
When I saw this book was a zombie western romance, I was a little bit wary. I love zombies, but romance isn't my thing and I don't think I've ever read a western in my life. But I'm nothing if not adventurous, so I decided to give it a try, and I'm really glad that I did.
Told in alternating POVs of Red, a beautiful loner with a tragic past, and Trace (also known as Cowboy), who first encounters her in a wild west saloon, Wanted: Dead or Undead tells their story as they move through the country, looking for a safe haven from the zombie hordes. As their relationship moves from unwilling on Red's part, to friendship and finally love, picking up Wen and two children on their travels, Trace gradually discovers more about Red, and the secret she works so hard to hide.
I liked all the characters in this book, all are well drawn and likable, and it's impossible not to cheer for them as they make their way through some pretty hairy situations. And it's a very well written story - Angela Scott has a knack for making her words come alive on the page.
Probably my favourite part of the book, however, is Red and her secret. It's something I've seen only a few times before in zombie books and it's done exceedingly well here - but if you want to know more, you're going to have to read the book!
Although romance is really not big on my list of favourites, the romance between Trace and Red feels very natural and unforced - there's limited cheesiness and some pretty tender moments. I also enjoyed the Wild West setting - as I said earlier it's not something I've read before, but it does bring a whole new facet to zombie killing! Wanted: Dead or Undead is an enjoyable read, with some unique points, and I'll be definitely checking out the next book in the series!
Read more of my reviews at The Aussie Zombie
March 26, 2013
After seeing numerous (hundreds actually) tweets about this book, I managed to get my hands on a copy through an online drawing. Got it in the mail, picked it up, then put it back down. I don't do zombies due to the blood and gore and the fact I don't enjoy reading descriptions of children dying. My only Old West experience comes from being made to watch Silverado as a child more times than I care to tally up. So you can see why my first reaction to this novel was a mixture of disinterest and hesitation.
But the book I was currently reading was truly dreadful so I thought, eh, what the hell, let's do this. I was pleasantly surprised.
Of the two main characters, Cowboy (Trace) and Red (Elisabeth), Red is the one who draws you in with her smartass, hardcore cowgirl act. She is one of the most badass heroines I've ever read about. Cowboy was a little harder to pick apart and I felt like his character was more glazed over than Red's. Only when the two came together did the story start rolling. Something about this book makes it hard to put down and I finished it in a matter of hours.
Overall the Old West facts were fairly accurate, not that I'm a great judge of those things. But for instance, there is no way she would have held the reins in her right hand and shot with her left when it is never stated she is left handed. ALL cowgirls and cowboys (modern and ancient) are taught to ride with their left hand holding the reins so their dominant hand is free. It was little details like that that bothered me the most.
As for the zombies, that part was disgusting and made me realize why I don't actively seek out zombie books.
But overall, it was a quick, easy read that I'll think about getting the sequel to.
But the book I was currently reading was truly dreadful so I thought, eh, what the hell, let's do this. I was pleasantly surprised.
Of the two main characters, Cowboy (Trace) and Red (Elisabeth), Red is the one who draws you in with her smartass, hardcore cowgirl act. She is one of the most badass heroines I've ever read about. Cowboy was a little harder to pick apart and I felt like his character was more glazed over than Red's. Only when the two came together did the story start rolling. Something about this book makes it hard to put down and I finished it in a matter of hours.
Overall the Old West facts were fairly accurate, not that I'm a great judge of those things. But for instance, there is no way she would have held the reins in her right hand and shot with her left when it is never stated she is left handed. ALL cowgirls and cowboys (modern and ancient) are taught to ride with their left hand holding the reins so their dominant hand is free. It was little details like that that bothered me the most.
As for the zombies, that part was disgusting and made me realize why I don't actively seek out zombie books.
But overall, it was a quick, easy read that I'll think about getting the sequel to.
August 6, 2012
ZOMBIES. IN THE WILD WEST. Could anything be anymore fabulous? I think not.
I really didn't know what to expect from this. I did not think I was going to like it. At first, I thought, "Really? Zombies and horses? Stupid. Stupid stupid stupid." But then I was sucked in. Because there's action and shoot outs and ZOMBIES. The OK Corral with ZOMBIES.
Red, our protagonist..ish, is immune to Zombie bites. Kinda. Like, she'll live and she won't turn, but maybe she will, just a little? But it doesn't matter, because Red is all kinds of kick ass. Seriously. Should the zombie apocalypse really come? I want Red on my time. This girl can shoot like the boys and she's not afraid of a fight. I like that in a girl.
There was love stories sprinkled in and they were sweet, but for me, they were just there. Sure, we're gonna fall in love during the zombie uprising. Things are kinda shit. All you need is love, said the Beatles. But I did not care about babies being made or rewards being passed up in order for TRU LUV to prevail. I cared about the zombies. And the fighting. And Scott? Did. Not. Disappoint.
December 31, 2012
Red is a woman who needs or wants no one, it only complicates life. She is travelling east to find her brother, fighting zombies along the way. A plaque has hit the country, possibly the world but Red can take care of herself. The trouble is, after running into Trace at a saloon, she is no longer alone and she doesn’t really know what he wants from her. As they continue to travel, they pick up more and more people, all of whom discover why she is so good at killing zombies.
Angela Scott writes with a lovely descriptive piece of work, in fact the image of the baby in the cot stayed with me when I closed my eyes. I liked the feisty MC, she takes nonsense from no one but as the story continues and we learn of her horrendous life, we get to see her softer side. Trace is more of a gentleman than cowboy but again it works in the relationship between them.
The idea of treating zombies as a plague has intrigued me for some time and unlike recent books about the apocalypse there are no bombs, weapons of mass destruction that can wipe out some of the numbers, here you just have a gun, a sword and they are greatly outnumbered. What I like about this book is the change in Red and what grows within her and wondering whether it will take over.
It is nicely written, paced well and good strong characters. I will be reading the second book.
January 8, 2013
Alright, I'm gonna start with the negatives since that's what I do best (though I feel bad because the author is actually kind of awesome). The romance aspect was kind of hurried and a tad unbelievable, though I think toward the end it started to resolve itself a bit better. The ending itself was a bit of a letdown, with no actual action and just the promise of it in future books. I wasn't overly in love with Wen or Caroline, or the kids for that matter, though Rivers had moments of badassness. I'm also not so happy with the Tough-girl-falls-apart trope that filled up the middle of the book.
In favor, it had a pretty good flow, with some good character interaction. It was a bit of a different take on zombies, the whole bite immunity was different, and allows for some speculation. I also like that I didn't quite see everything coming a mile off. There wasn't a lot of story padding, or too much protagonist whining. Anyway, it was a worthy enough effort that I'm interested in a sequel, and maybe that's the best praise you can get from me, a notoriously mean reviewer.
I received a copy of this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
In favor, it had a pretty good flow, with some good character interaction. It was a bit of a different take on zombies, the whole bite immunity was different, and allows for some speculation. I also like that I didn't quite see everything coming a mile off. There wasn't a lot of story padding, or too much protagonist whining. Anyway, it was a worthy enough effort that I'm interested in a sequel, and maybe that's the best praise you can get from me, a notoriously mean reviewer.
I received a copy of this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
April 25, 2012
This book was ridiculously good. What I like most about Wanted: Dead o Undead was that it caught my attention from page one. Then the rest of the book was equally amazing. I don’t like zombies at all but this book was an exception. Maybe because I just read it during the day. But it wasn’t all about zombies; it was more about surviving.
Red is now in my top 10 favorite kickass female character of all time. She was AMAZING. I just enjoyed reading her character and seeing how much she grew throughout the book. I also loved Trace. He was a perfect balance to Red’s character. I wish I could say more but I’ll be giving away good stuff.
This book definitely surprised me a few times and I was upset when it ended. Not because it was a bad ending, I loved the ending, but because I wished it never ended. It was very well written and there was never a dull moment. I can’t wait to read the sequel!
Red is now in my top 10 favorite kickass female character of all time. She was AMAZING. I just enjoyed reading her character and seeing how much she grew throughout the book. I also loved Trace. He was a perfect balance to Red’s character. I wish I could say more but I’ll be giving away good stuff.
This book definitely surprised me a few times and I was upset when it ended. Not because it was a bad ending, I loved the ending, but because I wished it never ended. It was very well written and there was never a dull moment. I can’t wait to read the sequel!
August 24, 2014
First paragraph: Elisabeth walked the path to the streambed with precise, careful steps. The moon provided enough light to go by as she navigated the familiar brush and rocks. She held a metal pail in one hand, and her father's pistol, pointed toward the ground, in the other.
3 1/2 stars rounded up to 4, because that's how rounding works, of course.
I read this book as part of Pro-Active Destruction's Book of the Month for August. At first, I wasn't sure if I was going to like it all that well...zombie western young adult romance. Talk about a mash up of genres and stereotypes. However, despite some of my issues with Red's character regression from tough-as-nails frontier chick to sniveling submissive maiden, the book grew on me, particularly the ending.
I anticipate the next in the series.
3 1/2 stars rounded up to 4, because that's how rounding works, of course.
I read this book as part of Pro-Active Destruction's Book of the Month for August. At first, I wasn't sure if I was going to like it all that well...zombie western young adult romance. Talk about a mash up of genres and stereotypes. However, despite some of my issues with Red's character regression from tough-as-nails frontier chick to sniveling submissive maiden, the book grew on me, particularly the ending.
I anticipate the next in the series.
April 1, 2012
I did not expect much going into this book, but I have to admit that I really enjoyed it. Red is a great character, the world building is excellent, and I loved the diversity of the characters. Thank you so much for the email from Angela Scott to let me know this title was available for free from Evolved. Also, thanks to Evolved publishing for letting us try this title for free. I can't wait for the second title!
I recommend this for fans of Rot and Ruin and Feed (by Grant). Great zombie action.
I recommend this for fans of Rot and Ruin and Feed (by Grant). Great zombie action.
August 27, 2014
If you are a die-hard Western Romance lover, who loves to see your women are emotionally weak, bursting out in tears crying while her romance interest, a cookie cutter western cartoon of a man, comforts her ... Well, this might be your book.
If you are looking for an action plot with some “meat” to it, you’d be better off looking somewhere else.
This book is chock full of cliche, cookie cutter caricature, predictable plot-lines, weak dialog and lackluster ‘action.’
In the beginning I was laughing at the cheesy nature of it. By the end I was rolling my eyes and skimming over the pages.
If you are looking for an action plot with some “meat” to it, you’d be better off looking somewhere else.
This book is chock full of cliche, cookie cutter caricature, predictable plot-lines, weak dialog and lackluster ‘action.’
In the beginning I was laughing at the cheesy nature of it. By the end I was rolling my eyes and skimming over the pages.
September 2, 2012
I promised a friend I would read this book but I REALLY didn't want to. Zombies? Yuck!! Then I read the prologue. Yep, I was right. Zombies! Gross!! But a promise is a promise so I persisted. SO GLAD that I did because I LOVED it! Very exciting plot with unpredictable turns in just the right places. The characters are flawed and real and I fell in love with them all. Can't wait for the sequel.
October 22, 2012
I wasn’t too sure of what to make of this book before I began reading it. A zombie book – love. The fact I might pick up some more tips for survival – love. A…western? I didn’t know if I would love that. Seriously… historical western zombie story? But somehow Angela Scott pulls it off fabulously.
This book starts with a gruesome and zombie-beautiful prologue. It is the stuff the zombie nightmares – or dreams! – are made of. And it sets up the book perfectly. But it doesn’t really tell us too much other than we should be scared for our flesh!
Then we meet Red. Red comes into a saloon and saves the day while everyone else was trying to shoot a zombie like it was the first time they ever held a gun. Good thing Red was there, right? Especially since Red is a woman. Yeah, not so heard of in the 1800s.
Red is a young woman with fiery red hair. She is tough and a loner. But that’s until Trace “finds” her. See, he saw her in that saloon and decided he needed to see her some more. So he tracked her down. They became travel companions, each with their own secrets. Big secrets. Game changing secrets. But no names. So he is Cowboy and she is Red. And then they are on their way.
And then they meet Wen, who is also on his own. And the duo becomes and easy trio. I really loved how this woman, who was a loner, morphed herself into part of a group. Sure, she fought it. But sometimes you can’t fight destiny. And together, Wen, Cowboy and Red have terrific chemistry. And then their group grows some more.
Meet Lasso. And Rivers. And Fisher. And maybe even a few others. I’m a firm believer when the apoc comes we will need to group up. I mean, you can’t stay awake 24 hours a day. You will need someone to watch your back. And a few more. So the fact that this group formed and grew was a pleasant surprise.
Red began to show more and more signs of tenderness. See, Rivers and Fisher are orphaned children. And she turns out to have somewhat of a motherly touch. And her instincts kick in. She is definitely a strong heroine and she’s earned my admiration. Sure, there are a few steps along the way where she stumbles. But that’s what I like to see in my heroines. I also like them to find a man. Or love. I found myself hoping that Red would find that, because sometimes when you are taking down zombies it helps to have a warm touch to help ground you. But you will have to read the book to find out if that happens.
Like other reviewers I expected some humor in this story. I am not sure why! I was concerned, I admit it. Once again, I’ve proven I’m often wrong about a lot of things. This book is an emotional and strengthening tale of survival. Its about hope and love, not necessarily romantic love but more of a camraderie/familial love. It might have taken place a century ago, but the heart of the survivor's story is there. There was some great action, and definitely some great zombie gore. So if you are looking for something a little different as far as zombies go – give it a try!
This book starts with a gruesome and zombie-beautiful prologue. It is the stuff the zombie nightmares – or dreams! – are made of. And it sets up the book perfectly. But it doesn’t really tell us too much other than we should be scared for our flesh!
Then we meet Red. Red comes into a saloon and saves the day while everyone else was trying to shoot a zombie like it was the first time they ever held a gun. Good thing Red was there, right? Especially since Red is a woman. Yeah, not so heard of in the 1800s.
Red is a young woman with fiery red hair. She is tough and a loner. But that’s until Trace “finds” her. See, he saw her in that saloon and decided he needed to see her some more. So he tracked her down. They became travel companions, each with their own secrets. Big secrets. Game changing secrets. But no names. So he is Cowboy and she is Red. And then they are on their way.
And then they meet Wen, who is also on his own. And the duo becomes and easy trio. I really loved how this woman, who was a loner, morphed herself into part of a group. Sure, she fought it. But sometimes you can’t fight destiny. And together, Wen, Cowboy and Red have terrific chemistry. And then their group grows some more.
Meet Lasso. And Rivers. And Fisher. And maybe even a few others. I’m a firm believer when the apoc comes we will need to group up. I mean, you can’t stay awake 24 hours a day. You will need someone to watch your back. And a few more. So the fact that this group formed and grew was a pleasant surprise.
Red began to show more and more signs of tenderness. See, Rivers and Fisher are orphaned children. And she turns out to have somewhat of a motherly touch. And her instincts kick in. She is definitely a strong heroine and she’s earned my admiration. Sure, there are a few steps along the way where she stumbles. But that’s what I like to see in my heroines. I also like them to find a man. Or love. I found myself hoping that Red would find that, because sometimes when you are taking down zombies it helps to have a warm touch to help ground you. But you will have to read the book to find out if that happens.
Like other reviewers I expected some humor in this story. I am not sure why! I was concerned, I admit it. Once again, I’ve proven I’m often wrong about a lot of things. This book is an emotional and strengthening tale of survival. Its about hope and love, not necessarily romantic love but more of a camraderie/familial love. It might have taken place a century ago, but the heart of the survivor's story is there. There was some great action, and definitely some great zombie gore. So if you are looking for something a little different as far as zombies go – give it a try!
December 10, 2012
Elisabeth Story's life has changed within the blink of an eye. Almost all of her family is dead, except for her and her older brother. Unfortunately, he's off fighting the war against the undead so there's no way for her to tell him the bad news. Despite everything she's gone through, she's determined to make the most of the lot she's been dealt in life. Unfortunately, that's not going to be as easy as it looks.
With a madman hot on her trail, her only course is to live each day as it comes while remaining one step ahead of him. Dodging the undead through every city she passes, her only goal is to find her brother before she loses him in the process. Family is all that matters to her and she'll do everything she can to try and keep what's left of hers together.
Trace Monroe knows what he wants, when he wants it. He's lived each day as if it were his last and has done his best to keep himself alive, at all costs. The world has changed in so short a time. The undead litter every corner of the world. Their only thought is to feed the hunger that roils within them.
Using every ounce of his strength to stay alive, Trace has done well, up until now. His tricks at the card table have kept him alive this long and he's pretty sure they'll keep him going for awhile longer. Until he meets the fiery red-head that strolls into the bar where he's trying to turn his next trick. Quick with her guns despite her tough demeanor, she's able to save them all from a swift demise from one of the undead. A feat he can't help but to admire.
As the dire situation grows, Trace finds himself pulling the beautiful woman under his wing. His gut tells him she's in a heap of trouble. Heck, he's seen the wanted posters to prove it. Yet there's something about her that's caught his interest and refuses to let go. Determined to protect her to the best of his ability, the two of them embark on a journey that will test their mettle, in more ways than one.
Elisabeth knows she shouldn't place her trust in Trace's hands. Yet she can't deny that he's been there for her in ways no one else has in so short a time. Banding together as they fight against the undead, she soon realizes that there's more to him than meets the eye. Granted, she has her own secrets to keep. Never-the-less, she's willing to give him the benefit of a doubt in hopes of living through another day in order to eliminate the threat that's just around the corner.
This was such a gripping and very intriguing story. I enjoyed every minute of it. Sure, this is another zombie story, but there are quite a few elements within it that set it apart from the rest. The first, of course, is the fact that it's setting takes place in the Wild West. I absolutely love westerns and this one didn't disappoint. Granted, I do wish that there was a little more history given as to how the plague came about and what the character's past truly was. This is the start of a very good series, I think. Hopefully, book two will give me insight in that regards soon.
With a madman hot on her trail, her only course is to live each day as it comes while remaining one step ahead of him. Dodging the undead through every city she passes, her only goal is to find her brother before she loses him in the process. Family is all that matters to her and she'll do everything she can to try and keep what's left of hers together.
Trace Monroe knows what he wants, when he wants it. He's lived each day as if it were his last and has done his best to keep himself alive, at all costs. The world has changed in so short a time. The undead litter every corner of the world. Their only thought is to feed the hunger that roils within them.
Using every ounce of his strength to stay alive, Trace has done well, up until now. His tricks at the card table have kept him alive this long and he's pretty sure they'll keep him going for awhile longer. Until he meets the fiery red-head that strolls into the bar where he's trying to turn his next trick. Quick with her guns despite her tough demeanor, she's able to save them all from a swift demise from one of the undead. A feat he can't help but to admire.
As the dire situation grows, Trace finds himself pulling the beautiful woman under his wing. His gut tells him she's in a heap of trouble. Heck, he's seen the wanted posters to prove it. Yet there's something about her that's caught his interest and refuses to let go. Determined to protect her to the best of his ability, the two of them embark on a journey that will test their mettle, in more ways than one.
Elisabeth knows she shouldn't place her trust in Trace's hands. Yet she can't deny that he's been there for her in ways no one else has in so short a time. Banding together as they fight against the undead, she soon realizes that there's more to him than meets the eye. Granted, she has her own secrets to keep. Never-the-less, she's willing to give him the benefit of a doubt in hopes of living through another day in order to eliminate the threat that's just around the corner.
This was such a gripping and very intriguing story. I enjoyed every minute of it. Sure, this is another zombie story, but there are quite a few elements within it that set it apart from the rest. The first, of course, is the fact that it's setting takes place in the Wild West. I absolutely love westerns and this one didn't disappoint. Granted, I do wish that there was a little more history given as to how the plague came about and what the character's past truly was. This is the start of a very good series, I think. Hopefully, book two will give me insight in that regards soon.
July 2, 2012
The author contacted me and asked whether I would like to read and review her book, after looking at reviews, I said yes. The book itself is about a very unique concept and one that had lots of potential. This is a good book, it's very unique and pulls the reader in from the very beginning, the only problem I had with it was that it seemed to lose its momentum towards the end. The beginning was great, it was strong and action packed and I loved it. It was the makings of a great novel. But then we reached the middle and it lost the momentum. Red the main character seemed to lose her kickass strong willed personality we came to love. Instead she became fragile and lost, scared, I missed the Red we were originally introduced to. The one who could take out a zombie with one shot.
Trace is a cowboy, whose life is interrupted when a fiery red haired girl walks in the bar and shoots a zombie in front of everyone. Trace thinks she looks familiar and it isn’t until he sees the wanted posters he finds out who she is. Trace follows Red looking out to turn her in at the next town but things don't go as planned. Trace gets closer and closer to Red until he finds out the truth about the reward and he vows to keep her safe from her past. Red allows him to know her secret but she doesn't need his company and she damn well shouldn't want it. They outrun zombies until they finally catch up.
At the start Red was an incredible Kick ass heroine who could master any gun. I loved how unique she was, her fiery hair that matched her I-don’t-give-a-damn attitude. I loved her at the beginning. What I didn't like was how in the middle she becomes fragile, alas I understand the pain she is put through but it seems her strong will was turned off with a flick of a switch. We do see it shine through at odd moments but it wasn't constant like the beginning. She seemed to lose herself. Trace wasn't your typical cowboy, yes he could play cards and shoot a pistol but he was kind and caring too. He had a rough look but his personality wasn't like that at all. Together they were an alright couple, there was definitely an attraction but Red wasn't too forthcoming with her feelings. She held them back, if she had let them go, it could have been much better.
This book was enjoyable despite its few flaws. I loved the concept of a zombie western and in that part it was great. I loved the zombies and also how a very select few were immune to their bites, I wanted to know more about that but I’ll guess it will wait until book two. I do want to see what happens next to the characters so I will be reading book 2. WANTED: Dead or Undead is a unique book that is an action packed western with a twist of Zombies.
Trace is a cowboy, whose life is interrupted when a fiery red haired girl walks in the bar and shoots a zombie in front of everyone. Trace thinks she looks familiar and it isn’t until he sees the wanted posters he finds out who she is. Trace follows Red looking out to turn her in at the next town but things don't go as planned. Trace gets closer and closer to Red until he finds out the truth about the reward and he vows to keep her safe from her past. Red allows him to know her secret but she doesn't need his company and she damn well shouldn't want it. They outrun zombies until they finally catch up.
At the start Red was an incredible Kick ass heroine who could master any gun. I loved how unique she was, her fiery hair that matched her I-don’t-give-a-damn attitude. I loved her at the beginning. What I didn't like was how in the middle she becomes fragile, alas I understand the pain she is put through but it seems her strong will was turned off with a flick of a switch. We do see it shine through at odd moments but it wasn't constant like the beginning. She seemed to lose herself. Trace wasn't your typical cowboy, yes he could play cards and shoot a pistol but he was kind and caring too. He had a rough look but his personality wasn't like that at all. Together they were an alright couple, there was definitely an attraction but Red wasn't too forthcoming with her feelings. She held them back, if she had let them go, it could have been much better.
This book was enjoyable despite its few flaws. I loved the concept of a zombie western and in that part it was great. I loved the zombies and also how a very select few were immune to their bites, I wanted to know more about that but I’ll guess it will wait until book two. I do want to see what happens next to the characters so I will be reading book 2. WANTED: Dead or Undead is a unique book that is an action packed western with a twist of Zombies.
September 4, 2014
Unfortunately this book went downhill after a decent start. The prologue was a good start and the way the author kept some things mysterious was nice. The character development of Red was good; actually in my opinion it wasn't so much development as revealing her recent past that led up to the present situation. Unfortunately the strong-willed individual that we saw in the first half of the book was severely weakened in the second half when the romantic sub-plot was introduced. This is classed as a YA book but I was not really aware of the characters' ages until Trace's age was explicitly mentioned at one point.
I really like the idea of a setting with undead in the wild west but the plot of this book just wasn't as good as it could be. The author's self-admitted lack of spelling and grammar skills should have led her to find a good editor or at least proofreader before publishing this book. Referring to a cremation as grizzly instead of grisly was only the first but possibly most glaring error. I was distracted quite a few times due to errors such as a zombie's head that bust open (instead of burst), garnish a better result (instead of garner) and when the party was totally exhausted "Trace couldn't imagine anyone less weary than the five of them." That seems like a very basic mistake to allow into print.
One repeated phrase that I didn't like was the characters mixing ya and you. For example at one point Trace asks Red "Where do ya think you're going?" Mixing the slang with the full word in the same sentence is just odd, I feel that people just don't talk that way. If the author was going for a cowboy vibe then asking "where do ya think yer going?" might have been a better choice.
The first part of the book had what seemed to be more modern terms which distracted me (like honky tonk) but with a little research I found that they may have been correct for the period; since the year is not mentioned I can't tell for sure. I don't know if Kenny Rogers appropriated the "know when to hold 'em" saying for his song but even if he did seeing a character recite it word for word broke my immersion.
As a closing observation that is a good example of why this book just didn't work for me was how the animals reacted to Red and how none of the other people noticed it. It seemed so glaring the way it was written but nobody was picking up on the clues.
I really like the idea of a setting with undead in the wild west but the plot of this book just wasn't as good as it could be. The author's self-admitted lack of spelling and grammar skills should have led her to find a good editor or at least proofreader before publishing this book. Referring to a cremation as grizzly instead of grisly was only the first but possibly most glaring error. I was distracted quite a few times due to errors such as a zombie's head that bust open (instead of burst), garnish a better result (instead of garner) and when the party was totally exhausted "Trace couldn't imagine anyone less weary than the five of them." That seems like a very basic mistake to allow into print.
One repeated phrase that I didn't like was the characters mixing ya and you. For example at one point Trace asks Red "Where do ya think you're going?" Mixing the slang with the full word in the same sentence is just odd, I feel that people just don't talk that way. If the author was going for a cowboy vibe then asking "where do ya think yer going?" might have been a better choice.
The first part of the book had what seemed to be more modern terms which distracted me (like honky tonk) but with a little research I found that they may have been correct for the period; since the year is not mentioned I can't tell for sure. I don't know if Kenny Rogers appropriated the "know when to hold 'em" saying for his song but even if he did seeing a character recite it word for word broke my immersion.
As a closing observation that is a good example of why this book just didn't work for me was how the animals reacted to Red and how none of the other people noticed it. It seemed so glaring the way it was written but nobody was picking up on the clues.
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