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Savages
Mindless murdering savages.
Are they zombies?
Are they still human?
Whatever the other survivors have become, they no longer speak; they only kill and live like animals. Parker and Marcus navigate through the ruins of America and battle through these lingering savages with no answers, searching for the last strain of humanity.
Civilization was just a flickering illusion. Turn out the lights long enough and you see what we really are.
Until one discovery changes everything.
The infant’s cry shatters their already destroyed world. For Parker, the babe invokes the ghosts of her dead husband and sons. For Iraq war veteran Marcus, the child embodies his hope and gives him innocence to protect. For both, they struggle to determine if faded notions like romance are just too expensive in this bleak, dying world.
My desire for him was like my desire to eat my gun every morning. It was not something I did; it was something I lived with.
In this grim portrait of post apocalyptic survival, the survivors of an apocalypse—from preppers and soldiers to passengers in life—face the horror of not knowing what happened to the world around them as they question whether humanity was ever human to begin with.
Are they zombies?
Are they still human?
Whatever the other survivors have become, they no longer speak; they only kill and live like animals. Parker and Marcus navigate through the ruins of America and battle through these lingering savages with no answers, searching for the last strain of humanity.
Civilization was just a flickering illusion. Turn out the lights long enough and you see what we really are.
Until one discovery changes everything.
The infant’s cry shatters their already destroyed world. For Parker, the babe invokes the ghosts of her dead husband and sons. For Iraq war veteran Marcus, the child embodies his hope and gives him innocence to protect. For both, they struggle to determine if faded notions like romance are just too expensive in this bleak, dying world.
My desire for him was like my desire to eat my gun every morning. It was not something I did; it was something I lived with.
In this grim portrait of post apocalyptic survival, the survivors of an apocalypse—from preppers and soldiers to passengers in life—face the horror of not knowing what happened to the world around them as they question whether humanity was ever human to begin with.
176 pages, Paperback
First published December 19, 2014
8 people are currently reading
289 people want to read
About the author
Christina Bergling
29 books95 followersDrawn to the monstrous and macabre, Christina Bergling has been weaving nightmares since childhood. Her horror tales slither from post-apocalyptic (Savages, Screechers) to monster (Red Walls) psychological (The Waning) to comedy (The Rest Will Come) to mystery (Followers) and anything in between (various anthologies and zines including The Horror Collection series, 96th of October, Graveyard Girls, Demonic Wildlife).
Bergling is a member of the Horror Writers Association, Denver Horror Collective, and Midnight Monster Club and a dedicated voice in the horror genre. She has been featured on panels at Colorado Festival of Horror. She devours horror in all its forms—movies, books, festivals, conventions, stores, haunted attractions.
By day, she navigates the shadows of the IT world. By night, she turns trauma into art. When she’s not writing, she hikes rugged Colorado trails, dances wildly, and sucks out all the marrow of life with her family.
Bergling is a member of the Horror Writers Association, Denver Horror Collective, and Midnight Monster Club and a dedicated voice in the horror genre. She has been featured on panels at Colorado Festival of Horror. She devours horror in all its forms—movies, books, festivals, conventions, stores, haunted attractions.
By day, she navigates the shadows of the IT world. By night, she turns trauma into art. When she’s not writing, she hikes rugged Colorado trails, dances wildly, and sucks out all the marrow of life with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
January 29, 2026
Blow..me...away...
2026 Re-Read! Let’s go!
This book is one I will never forget, it impacted me on so many levels and is an absolutely stunning, scary and disturbing read. After reading The Waning and really liking Christina's writing style I was super keen to read this one too and she did not let me down. Just wow! Really powerful stuff here. This book made my Top 20 Reads of 2015. Loved it just as much in 2026!
I don't read zombie books, end of story. What I liked about this book is that it's not a clear-cut zombie book, whilst set in a post-apocalyptic wilderness with savages and inhumane activities, this is not your normal zombie book. Horror fans will just love this one. I can't recommend it enough.
Mindless murdering savages.
Are they zombies?
Are they still human?
Whatever the other survivors have become, they no longer speak; they only kill and live like animals. Parker and Marcus navigate through the ruins of America and battle through these lingering savages with no answers, searching for the last strain of humanity.
Civilization was just a flickering illusion. Turn out the lights long enough and you see what we really are.
Until one discovery changes everything.
From the first word in this book I was immersed and escaped into another time and place, a place so disturbing I truly prayed the world would never, ever end up in this stage of affairs. If it does - we all are stuffed quite frankly.
Two survivors...
Parker (female) and Marcus plod the tiresome journey across a ravaged and unrecognisable America looking for anything that helps their survival, food, water, shelter but most of all are their ANY other human beings that have not become like...them..the ones..the savages they must kill or be killed by. These savages and the way they are depicted is really thought-provoking stuff and disturbing on so many levels, why? Because it could happen, it's not really science-fiction. Imagine. No don't.
A turn of events totally changes their journey and I could not turn pages fast enough at this point, I felt every emotion possible and more and was just entranced and repelled all at the same time. Rave, rave, rave.
Christina Bergling is an amazing author. I was very proud to have one of my own horror short stories published in the same horror anthology as Christina. 5 very strong stars from me for this one. Can't recommend it enough.
Thanks for reading my review. If you would like to please send me a friend request or follow me for more reviews. I love connecting with other book lovers.
2026 Re-Read! Let’s go!
This book is one I will never forget, it impacted me on so many levels and is an absolutely stunning, scary and disturbing read. After reading The Waning and really liking Christina's writing style I was super keen to read this one too and she did not let me down. Just wow! Really powerful stuff here. This book made my Top 20 Reads of 2015. Loved it just as much in 2026!
I don't read zombie books, end of story. What I liked about this book is that it's not a clear-cut zombie book, whilst set in a post-apocalyptic wilderness with savages and inhumane activities, this is not your normal zombie book. Horror fans will just love this one. I can't recommend it enough.
Mindless murdering savages.
Are they zombies?
Are they still human?
Whatever the other survivors have become, they no longer speak; they only kill and live like animals. Parker and Marcus navigate through the ruins of America and battle through these lingering savages with no answers, searching for the last strain of humanity.
Civilization was just a flickering illusion. Turn out the lights long enough and you see what we really are.
Until one discovery changes everything.
From the first word in this book I was immersed and escaped into another time and place, a place so disturbing I truly prayed the world would never, ever end up in this stage of affairs. If it does - we all are stuffed quite frankly.
Two survivors...
Parker (female) and Marcus plod the tiresome journey across a ravaged and unrecognisable America looking for anything that helps their survival, food, water, shelter but most of all are their ANY other human beings that have not become like...them..the ones..the savages they must kill or be killed by. These savages and the way they are depicted is really thought-provoking stuff and disturbing on so many levels, why? Because it could happen, it's not really science-fiction. Imagine. No don't.
A turn of events totally changes their journey and I could not turn pages fast enough at this point, I felt every emotion possible and more and was just entranced and repelled all at the same time. Rave, rave, rave.
Christina Bergling is an amazing author. I was very proud to have one of my own horror short stories published in the same horror anthology as Christina. 5 very strong stars from me for this one. Can't recommend it enough.
Thanks for reading my review. If you would like to please send me a friend request or follow me for more reviews. I love connecting with other book lovers.
January 13, 2015
This review of Savages by Christina Bergling is the result of an ARC sent to Ginger Nuts of Horror in exchange for an honest review.
Another new author to me. Christina Bergling is not a name I have heard before but after reading this I reckon I will be looking out for her in the future.
Two survivors battle through everything put in their path in a post-apocalyptic world with only one goal…….to find other survivors. They want to find “normal” humans though. Not the Savages. Travelling alone, they fight, sleep, walk and repeat. Things change dramatically when they come across a new born baby hidden in a cupboard. Their goal now must also include the survival of this new life in the hateful world it has been born into. This does not prove easy.
When I was reading this book I wasn’t sure. It had me gripped from the first page but something just didn’t sit right with me. Then I realised why.
When I say this story is post-apocalyptic, forget the normal run of the mill zombie story. This is not it. Yes the world as we know it has ended. Yes the world is now full of Savages. No I don’t know what caused it or why the Savages were indeed “savages”. You don’t find out in this story. Ever. You don’t even find out the main characters names until 65% into the story. They are simply known as the female that’s telling the story and the man she calls “he”.
The world they are battling through is brutal. It’s desolate. Completely destroyed. They don’t even know why. Their search is twofold, find other survivors and find out what happened. I won’t tell you what they find but you will be entirely entranced waiting to find out. The savages aren’t zombies in the “normal” - infected after the release of some strange disease type savages. Think more brain infected and brain dead. When they turn, they only seem to concentrate on the death of anyone normal and their total destruction.
Our two main characters are a mother who has witnessed the death of her husband and two children and an ex-soldier who rescued her and taught her all he knew for survival. They work extremely well together and through her words you discover that she is obviously falling for him. You have no idea how long they have been a team or indeed how long it has been since the world ended. He leads, she follows. When they come across savages the fights are brutal and always end with a field full of body parts. When they come across a new born baby after such a fight things change completely. It’s obvious that they have just killed its parents. The roles they now take on however are not what you would expect. He wants to save it and she doesn’t. How it turns out is anybody’s guess.
The thing that is so wonderful about this story is the lack of information and the number of questions it raises. I didn’t realise this until I had finished it. In fact after finishing it and thinking about it my star rating has increased. The characters remain nameless and sort of faceless for over two thirds of the story. This adds “something” to it. I’m still not sure what “something” is but I liked it. It can read as very clinical but as it progresses the characters have some flash backs to life before the fall and it adds a little personal to it as well.
In truth it is an examination of the human race. What we are prepared to do for survival of ourselves and those dear to us. It certainly reveals the dire parts of human nature but also gives a little bit of hope as to what may be possible in the future for mankind. It raises questions within your own head making you ask yourself what you would have done and what you will do after “the end”.
This is a story that will hold your concentration from cover to cover. It’s fascinating. It’s scary for so many different reasons. It’s extremely harrowing at times and I challenge you to read it without bowing your head in complete sorrow and also without feeling ashamed at what we have made this world.
An excellent novella length story.
4+a bit stars.
- See more at: http://gingernutsofhorror.com/4/post/...
Another new author to me. Christina Bergling is not a name I have heard before but after reading this I reckon I will be looking out for her in the future.
Two survivors battle through everything put in their path in a post-apocalyptic world with only one goal…….to find other survivors. They want to find “normal” humans though. Not the Savages. Travelling alone, they fight, sleep, walk and repeat. Things change dramatically when they come across a new born baby hidden in a cupboard. Their goal now must also include the survival of this new life in the hateful world it has been born into. This does not prove easy.
When I was reading this book I wasn’t sure. It had me gripped from the first page but something just didn’t sit right with me. Then I realised why.
When I say this story is post-apocalyptic, forget the normal run of the mill zombie story. This is not it. Yes the world as we know it has ended. Yes the world is now full of Savages. No I don’t know what caused it or why the Savages were indeed “savages”. You don’t find out in this story. Ever. You don’t even find out the main characters names until 65% into the story. They are simply known as the female that’s telling the story and the man she calls “he”.
The world they are battling through is brutal. It’s desolate. Completely destroyed. They don’t even know why. Their search is twofold, find other survivors and find out what happened. I won’t tell you what they find but you will be entirely entranced waiting to find out. The savages aren’t zombies in the “normal” - infected after the release of some strange disease type savages. Think more brain infected and brain dead. When they turn, they only seem to concentrate on the death of anyone normal and their total destruction.
Our two main characters are a mother who has witnessed the death of her husband and two children and an ex-soldier who rescued her and taught her all he knew for survival. They work extremely well together and through her words you discover that she is obviously falling for him. You have no idea how long they have been a team or indeed how long it has been since the world ended. He leads, she follows. When they come across savages the fights are brutal and always end with a field full of body parts. When they come across a new born baby after such a fight things change completely. It’s obvious that they have just killed its parents. The roles they now take on however are not what you would expect. He wants to save it and she doesn’t. How it turns out is anybody’s guess.
The thing that is so wonderful about this story is the lack of information and the number of questions it raises. I didn’t realise this until I had finished it. In fact after finishing it and thinking about it my star rating has increased. The characters remain nameless and sort of faceless for over two thirds of the story. This adds “something” to it. I’m still not sure what “something” is but I liked it. It can read as very clinical but as it progresses the characters have some flash backs to life before the fall and it adds a little personal to it as well.
In truth it is an examination of the human race. What we are prepared to do for survival of ourselves and those dear to us. It certainly reveals the dire parts of human nature but also gives a little bit of hope as to what may be possible in the future for mankind. It raises questions within your own head making you ask yourself what you would have done and what you will do after “the end”.
This is a story that will hold your concentration from cover to cover. It’s fascinating. It’s scary for so many different reasons. It’s extremely harrowing at times and I challenge you to read it without bowing your head in complete sorrow and also without feeling ashamed at what we have made this world.
An excellent novella length story.
4+a bit stars.
- See more at: http://gingernutsofhorror.com/4/post/...
December 23, 2014
I am highly critical of the books I read, and rarely finish a book I'm not excited about. I am always on the lookout for a book that will enthral me, make me forget about the long list of things I'm not supposed to like about it. Don't give me a flawless book; they don't exist. Give me a book entrancing enough to make me ignore its flaws, make me stop cataloguing all the ways I could improve on it. give me a story that MOVES.
Savages by Christina Bergling is one of those rare gifts. A tale of two survivors of a zombielike apocalypse (the Savages are not quite zombies - they remind me more of Romero's The Crazies, thinking murderers consumed by madness, than of the traditional idea of the mindless flesh-eater), losing their humanity to the wilderness until the arrival of a newborn baby where one should not be possible causes their carefully constructed stoicism to unravel and their past traumas to rear their heads.
Savages is a story about what makes us human in an inhuman world, and is ultimately a redeeming story about love and survival. Well done.
Savages by Christina Bergling is one of those rare gifts. A tale of two survivors of a zombielike apocalypse (the Savages are not quite zombies - they remind me more of Romero's The Crazies, thinking murderers consumed by madness, than of the traditional idea of the mindless flesh-eater), losing their humanity to the wilderness until the arrival of a newborn baby where one should not be possible causes their carefully constructed stoicism to unravel and their past traumas to rear their heads.
Savages is a story about what makes us human in an inhuman world, and is ultimately a redeeming story about love and survival. Well done.
January 3, 2015
Christina Bergling's Savages took me in its grip and I did not want to be released. I savored reading every word, fascinated with the main characters and what they would do and say next. I read slowly, not wanting the book to end. Christina Bergling's writing style is poetic but never gets lost in description or the art of words. Her art balances exquisite beauty and disturbing horror, each moment measured and fully developed, yet fresh and pulsating with possibility. I know these characters. Their situation is relevant, and their humanity is real and complex. Christina Bergling is a brilliant author. I look forward to her next book!
November 2, 2015
Very well written book of a post apocalyptic world telling the story of two survivors walking across the country in search of a normal world. A kind of new twist on zombies. I recieved this book in a Goodreads giveaway and look forward to reading more of Christina Bergling's work!
March 25, 2019
I just finished reading Savages, by Christina Bergling.
This is a courageous book on a number of levels. Bergling’s treatment of the main protagonist, the last woman on Earth (Parker), cracks open tropes. At the opening of the story, she and her partner (Marcus) lay exhausted in a field of dismembered corpses. A whole town of savages, bestial ex-humans that may or may not be zombies. The protagonists pic themselves up and raid the town for supplies. They find more than they expected: both a survivalist’s horde of food, and a living infant.
Rather than being a slave to her womb, Parker’s reaction to the infant is far from motherly. She’s a skillfully painted three-dimensional portrait. Marcus is the one to insist on trying to save the child. We get some wonderful character growth from both characters over the child.
This is a horror story. Horrible things happen. Bergling seems to have read the formula guidebook “Save the cat” and thrown it out. Don’t expect any pulled punches. Horror, like comedy, is all about going too far and she does so skillfully.
At the same time, she mixes scenes of disgust and terror with beautiful, elegant prose. Not purple by any measure, the writing is nevertheless someone poetic, and definitely moody. This writing adds to the atmosphere expertly.
Additionally, the work takes on existential themes as I think only horror really can. Bergling poses to the readers a number of important questions. The biggest ones – what does it mean to be human? and How can we live with sure knowledge of death? both remain unanswered, as they should. But she does hazard some guesses about smaller questions, like, how are we to love when existence is impermanent? and what is the value of painful emotions and experiences?
This isn’t a huge novel. You could read it in one sitting if you’re a fast reader (it took me a day but I read about as fast as the moral arc of the universe bends towards justice). I think, though, that it will stick with you.
This is a courageous book on a number of levels. Bergling’s treatment of the main protagonist, the last woman on Earth (Parker), cracks open tropes. At the opening of the story, she and her partner (Marcus) lay exhausted in a field of dismembered corpses. A whole town of savages, bestial ex-humans that may or may not be zombies. The protagonists pic themselves up and raid the town for supplies. They find more than they expected: both a survivalist’s horde of food, and a living infant.
Rather than being a slave to her womb, Parker’s reaction to the infant is far from motherly. She’s a skillfully painted three-dimensional portrait. Marcus is the one to insist on trying to save the child. We get some wonderful character growth from both characters over the child.
This is a horror story. Horrible things happen. Bergling seems to have read the formula guidebook “Save the cat” and thrown it out. Don’t expect any pulled punches. Horror, like comedy, is all about going too far and she does so skillfully.
At the same time, she mixes scenes of disgust and terror with beautiful, elegant prose. Not purple by any measure, the writing is nevertheless someone poetic, and definitely moody. This writing adds to the atmosphere expertly.
Additionally, the work takes on existential themes as I think only horror really can. Bergling poses to the readers a number of important questions. The biggest ones – what does it mean to be human? and How can we live with sure knowledge of death? both remain unanswered, as they should. But she does hazard some guesses about smaller questions, like, how are we to love when existence is impermanent? and what is the value of painful emotions and experiences?
This isn’t a huge novel. You could read it in one sitting if you’re a fast reader (it took me a day but I read about as fast as the moral arc of the universe bends towards justice). I think, though, that it will stick with you.
July 22, 2025
gives literary fiction vibes
I started to realize most books I have read are literary fiction as I love well developed characters.
I personally loved following along with Parker and felt like I had started to learn more about her and Marcus. I understood why she felt the way she did.
The book is very well written and does a great job at making a character that one wouldn’t usually relate to relatable. It has an interesting take on zombies and makes more sense which makes it more creepy. I do wish that the answer of what happened would’ve been answered but I can see that Parker and Marcus had a very small chance of finding it out.
Overall a 4 star read for me.
I started to realize most books I have read are literary fiction as I love well developed characters.
I personally loved following along with Parker and felt like I had started to learn more about her and Marcus. I understood why she felt the way she did.
The book is very well written and does a great job at making a character that one wouldn’t usually relate to relatable. It has an interesting take on zombies and makes more sense which makes it more creepy. I do wish that the answer of what happened would’ve been answered but I can see that Parker and Marcus had a very small chance of finding it out.
Overall a 4 star read for me.
July 29, 2025
🧟♂️ SAVAGES 🧟♂️ by Christina Bergling - Listen - this book is as great and very well written. It was a traumatizing read, especially as a parent. A man and a woman are facing savages (it’s never stated they are zombies - but they are similar, and it’s ambiguous on how everyone started to turn animalistic) and trying to make it west… when they find an infant. It’s desolate, full of despair, and super depressing. If you enjoy other zombie media, post-apocalyptic tales, especially The Road, you’ll love this too. I did and I’ll never read it again 😂🫣
August 1, 2025
4/5 Stars
I enjoyed this novella set in a post-apocalyptic world, where a man and a woman are making their way across the country when they stumble upon a baby.
I appreciated this as a kind of palate cleanser from the usual zombie stories. It’s more reflective and character-driven. While I didn’t care for the constant flashbacks (they seemed to pop up every five minutes), they did help build a stronger emotional connection to the characters.
Overall, a great read!
I enjoyed this novella set in a post-apocalyptic world, where a man and a woman are making their way across the country when they stumble upon a baby.
I appreciated this as a kind of palate cleanser from the usual zombie stories. It’s more reflective and character-driven. While I didn’t care for the constant flashbacks (they seemed to pop up every five minutes), they did help build a stronger emotional connection to the characters.
Overall, a great read!
July 8, 2025
This book was fantastic. Two people fighting through a post apocalyptic world surviving monsters. Not the typical zombie apocalypse story. It was beautiful and poignant and I really enjoyed reading it.
December 28, 2022
I loved this book!! It had a lot of emotions and detail. I dislike the way one character dies, but it had a perfect for the plot. I recommend it.
July 6, 2025
This felt like Sarah Connor narrating The Walking Dead. I loved it and it left me wanting more.
July 8, 2025
great read. I like that the characters grew through the book.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews