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Undead Survivor #1
Guns, Rations, Rigs and the Undead
Prepping was his way of life.
Lincoln realizes it’s every man for himself when the big cities are swarming with the military and the law disappears in the tiny town of Dessarillo, Texas, causing chaos to erupt. People Lincoln’s known for years were attacking their friends and family with their minds set on eating them limb by limb. He’d been prepared for this exact moment, waiting for disaster to strike so he could take a front row seat to society’s self destruction.
As an outcast, he learned to rely on no one. Until he unexpectedly finds his life in the hands of his neighbor, Wyatt, the man proving to be trustworthy. Together they try to carve out a safe place while people are turning into flesh eating monsters, decaying from the inside out, and destroying humanity one bite at a time.
- GenresZombies
218 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 1, 2018
25 people are currently reading
37 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
October 22, 2018
Disclaimer: I bought this book on my own.
Rating: 4/5
Publication Date: May 1, 2018
Genre: Fantasy/Sci-Fi/Action
Recommended Age: 17+ (violence, zombies, adult scenes, and the worst thing ever… preppers)
Pages: 218
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Prepping was his way of life.
Lincoln realizes it’s every man for himself when the big cities are swarming with the military and the law disappears in the tiny town of Dessarillo, Texas, causing chaos to erupt. People Lincoln’s known for years were attacking their friends and family with their minds set on eating them limb by limb. He’d been prepared for this exact moment, waiting for disaster to strike so he could take a front row seat to society’s self destruction.
As an outcast, he learned to rely on no one. Until he unexpectedly finds his life in the hands of his neighbor, Wyatt, the man proving to be trustworthy. Together they try to carve out a safe place while people are turning into flesh eating monsters, decaying from the inside out, and destroying humanity one bite at a time.
I want to start this review by saying this book is completely adult, but if you enjoy them or have permission from your parents to read adult material then this book might be the one for you. I liked the almost realistic descriptions of this world and the characters were intriguing. Kendra definitely has a talent for writing and this book was the best I’ve read from her.
However, I will say that the book could have used more developed characters and events. I think that the book was a bit rushed and Lincoln was definitely underdeveloped. It was funny as well, but some of the jokes felt too forced and, since I know that she intended for the book to be written more masculine, I felt that making Lincoln so “sexy” kinda negated that for me. Again, there are some adult scenes in there as well and some needless romance, but that’s just my opinion.
Verdict: The most realistic zombie book you’ll ever read.
Rating: 4/5
Publication Date: May 1, 2018
Genre: Fantasy/Sci-Fi/Action
Recommended Age: 17+ (violence, zombies, adult scenes, and the worst thing ever… preppers)
Pages: 218
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Prepping was his way of life.
Lincoln realizes it’s every man for himself when the big cities are swarming with the military and the law disappears in the tiny town of Dessarillo, Texas, causing chaos to erupt. People Lincoln’s known for years were attacking their friends and family with their minds set on eating them limb by limb. He’d been prepared for this exact moment, waiting for disaster to strike so he could take a front row seat to society’s self destruction.
As an outcast, he learned to rely on no one. Until he unexpectedly finds his life in the hands of his neighbor, Wyatt, the man proving to be trustworthy. Together they try to carve out a safe place while people are turning into flesh eating monsters, decaying from the inside out, and destroying humanity one bite at a time.
I want to start this review by saying this book is completely adult, but if you enjoy them or have permission from your parents to read adult material then this book might be the one for you. I liked the almost realistic descriptions of this world and the characters were intriguing. Kendra definitely has a talent for writing and this book was the best I’ve read from her.
However, I will say that the book could have used more developed characters and events. I think that the book was a bit rushed and Lincoln was definitely underdeveloped. It was funny as well, but some of the jokes felt too forced and, since I know that she intended for the book to be written more masculine, I felt that making Lincoln so “sexy” kinda negated that for me. Again, there are some adult scenes in there as well and some needless romance, but that’s just my opinion.
Verdict: The most realistic zombie book you’ll ever read.
June 10, 2019
I want to preface this review by sating I am not fan of zombie books.
I decided to read this specific zombie book because a trusted friend of mine highly recommended it, telling me that Radke is a fantastic author.
So I bought it, and read it. And for the most part I greatly enjoyed it. Radke is a fantastic author, the story was very well developed, I greatly enjoyed the character development, and I look forward to reading more from the author.
I decided to read this specific zombie book because a trusted friend of mine highly recommended it, telling me that Radke is a fantastic author.
So I bought it, and read it. And for the most part I greatly enjoyed it. Radke is a fantastic author, the story was very well developed, I greatly enjoyed the character development, and I look forward to reading more from the author.
June 30, 2019
Awesome
It was an awesome read. It is somewhat better than watching the Walking Dead. There was even a few twists that I didn’t expect. Lincoln was my favorite character, but Samuel and Renee were two characters that made me laugh with their martial banter. Very few misspelled or omitted words. Nothing that can’t be overlooked. Would recommend to others.
It was an awesome read. It is somewhat better than watching the Walking Dead. There was even a few twists that I didn’t expect. Lincoln was my favorite character, but Samuel and Renee were two characters that made me laugh with their martial banter. Very few misspelled or omitted words. Nothing that can’t be overlooked. Would recommend to others.
June 26, 2018
This book brought back all the enthusiasm for zombie-esque stories and shows I would constantly watch. Absolutely holding nothing back from the first chapters, you’re smack dab in an on-coming zombie apocalypse. Pretty much a death sentence for most people right? Well, maybe a little hope for a prepper like Lincoln. First and foremost, I didn’t know what a prepper was when I first started reading. Sure, I know such people existed but I didn’t know there was an actual name for it. Which sounds silly when I even type this. Radke eases you into all of this though. Not just the overlying ‘what to do’ and ‘what to have’ but the struggles with it too. Lincoln has his struggles. Such as the people that once scorned him are now expecting him to save them. Lincoln is gruff, rough, and tough. Also kind of a softie? Though he’d rather not admit.
I can only thank my extensive watching of the Walking Dead, Shaun of the Dead, and more that I have a strong stomach. Because this book? It’ll test you. It’s depiction of zombies; from their look to the imagery of their actions will leave little to the imagination. I suggest if you’re reading on a phone or tablet, to have a pillow underneath. Otherwise, you can easily drop it when you gasp at some parts. Also, I covered my eyes at one point like that would help…anyway…
Now reading this review may seem like it’s a lot. I mean it in the best way really. It was exciting! I have a bit of a dark sense of humor sometimes and easily was laughing throughout. Often at the strangest things like the odd reactions of the characters and easily Lincoln’s point of view. Also, Radke manages to fit a bit of romance in the book! The pacing, characters, and setting were all great. I felt like all the buildups and hilarity were really well written. Lincoln is an amazing character with growth and a very real sense of personality. He reminded me of a few people I’ve met growing up in Texas actually. I look forward to seeing just how book two will pick things up!
See the full post at www. thepageunbound .com / 2018 / 06 / guns-rations-rigs-and-the-undead-review/
I can only thank my extensive watching of the Walking Dead, Shaun of the Dead, and more that I have a strong stomach. Because this book? It’ll test you. It’s depiction of zombies; from their look to the imagery of their actions will leave little to the imagination. I suggest if you’re reading on a phone or tablet, to have a pillow underneath. Otherwise, you can easily drop it when you gasp at some parts. Also, I covered my eyes at one point like that would help…anyway…
Now reading this review may seem like it’s a lot. I mean it in the best way really. It was exciting! I have a bit of a dark sense of humor sometimes and easily was laughing throughout. Often at the strangest things like the odd reactions of the characters and easily Lincoln’s point of view. Also, Radke manages to fit a bit of romance in the book! The pacing, characters, and setting were all great. I felt like all the buildups and hilarity were really well written. Lincoln is an amazing character with growth and a very real sense of personality. He reminded me of a few people I’ve met growing up in Texas actually. I look forward to seeing just how book two will pick things up!
See the full post at www. thepageunbound .com / 2018 / 06 / guns-rations-rigs-and-the-undead-review/
May 3, 2018
Kendra asked me to Beta read this and provide an honest and spoiler free review. Of course since I've read her other books I couldn't say no. I need a paperback copy of this book ASAP!
This book had me hooked from page one, I wasn't sure what to expect but I prepared myself. Kendra definitely has a way with words and being her first "gore" novel I definitely was not disappointed!
I wasn't sure what to expect in this book except of course zombies. The zombies by the way are written perfectly, and they seem almost realistic. This book marked off a couple firsts for me: 1) First Arc/Beta Read and 2)First zombie book. I can't say enough good things about this book or about anything written by Kendra.
The writing style in here was on point. It was a quick read and full of lots of action. I loved the setting as well. Kendra has a way with writing her worlds, they all are written so you can picture it perfectly. She didn't leave out any details in the world building.
The characters could have had a bit more development but seeing as it is a quick read I didn't mind not knowing as much about some characters. Lincoln as a character was beautifully written. Typical doomsday prepper that trusts no one and nothing. This definitely added to the tension in some of this book, as he is faced with things that challenge everything he believes.
The only downsides and complaints I had were that the book wasn't long enough and that I would've loved to have known more about Lincolns past. Being a guarded person it almost seems like something happened to him previously.
This book had me hooked from page one, I wasn't sure what to expect but I prepared myself. Kendra definitely has a way with words and being her first "gore" novel I definitely was not disappointed!
I wasn't sure what to expect in this book except of course zombies. The zombies by the way are written perfectly, and they seem almost realistic. This book marked off a couple firsts for me: 1) First Arc/Beta Read and 2)First zombie book. I can't say enough good things about this book or about anything written by Kendra.
The writing style in here was on point. It was a quick read and full of lots of action. I loved the setting as well. Kendra has a way with writing her worlds, they all are written so you can picture it perfectly. She didn't leave out any details in the world building.
The characters could have had a bit more development but seeing as it is a quick read I didn't mind not knowing as much about some characters. Lincoln as a character was beautifully written. Typical doomsday prepper that trusts no one and nothing. This definitely added to the tension in some of this book, as he is faced with things that challenge everything he believes.
The only downsides and complaints I had were that the book wasn't long enough and that I would've loved to have known more about Lincolns past. Being a guarded person it almost seems like something happened to him previously.
April 19, 2019
I purchased this book from Amazon.
So much gore!🧟♂️🧟♀️
In Desarillo, TX neighbors start turning to the one person they pretty much never had anything to do with untill now. When neighbor's start ripping other neighbors faces off, and somehow they are coming back from the dead. Lincoln has always been a prepper and a bad ass at that. Of course he's tough and doesn't take shit from no-one. So why would he help the people that not once ever needed him for anything before not even to be friendly.
The gruesome description of the zombies and someone getting chomped on will probably make you gag but that's what makes this book so freaken awesome. Radke wrote a very descriptive book about zombies, with interesting characters and fantastic world building. Also the humor in this book had me actually LOL, my husband thought I was crazy. I definitely recommend this book for zombie lovers.
Looking forward to reading the second book and seeing what else Lincoln and his new 'friends' come across.
So much gore!🧟♂️🧟♀️
In Desarillo, TX neighbors start turning to the one person they pretty much never had anything to do with untill now. When neighbor's start ripping other neighbors faces off, and somehow they are coming back from the dead. Lincoln has always been a prepper and a bad ass at that. Of course he's tough and doesn't take shit from no-one. So why would he help the people that not once ever needed him for anything before not even to be friendly.
The gruesome description of the zombies and someone getting chomped on will probably make you gag but that's what makes this book so freaken awesome. Radke wrote a very descriptive book about zombies, with interesting characters and fantastic world building. Also the humor in this book had me actually LOL, my husband thought I was crazy. I definitely recommend this book for zombie lovers.
Looking forward to reading the second book and seeing what else Lincoln and his new 'friends' come across.
August 14, 2018
Full disclosure: review copy received from author
This was a gritty, but funny zombie apocalypse book and a great start to a new series. The main character, Lincoln, is a “prepper,” who has been keeping his eye on the pulse of society waiting for just this type of situation to arise. So when an undead Elvis impersonator starts to terrorize his neighborhood, suddenly all the families around who had avoided him turn to Lincoln for guidance and survival. After a few buddy comedy like scenarios, Lincoln finds one neighbor, Wyatt, who he takes under his wing as he gets ready to face the worst the ghouls can dish out.
Newer zombie genre readers may find some details gruesome, but there’s lots of humorous moments to help balance the scales. I’m anxious to see where the apocalypse leads Lincoln in Book two.
This was a gritty, but funny zombie apocalypse book and a great start to a new series. The main character, Lincoln, is a “prepper,” who has been keeping his eye on the pulse of society waiting for just this type of situation to arise. So when an undead Elvis impersonator starts to terrorize his neighborhood, suddenly all the families around who had avoided him turn to Lincoln for guidance and survival. After a few buddy comedy like scenarios, Lincoln finds one neighbor, Wyatt, who he takes under his wing as he gets ready to face the worst the ghouls can dish out.
Newer zombie genre readers may find some details gruesome, but there’s lots of humorous moments to help balance the scales. I’m anxious to see where the apocalypse leads Lincoln in Book two.
January 9, 2023
بكل بساطة من احلى الكتب عندي اذا ما كان احلاهم بالفعل!
كاتبة رائعة بمعنى الكلمة فوق ما انها كاتبة عن شيء مكرر ومتعارف عليه بكثرة (خصوصا لي أنا حيث اني اعتقد اني شفت كل شيء عن الزومبيز) توقعت بتكون قصة الكتاب حبكتها ركيكة ومكرره الا انها تخطت كل توقعاتي ومره سعيدة بالكتاب اللي قريته لها.
انغمست مع لينكولن بكل تشابتر افعاله كانت منطقية وشخصيته تجنن واحيانا اشوف الواقع فيه، بكل بساطة اعتبره احد افضل الابطال اللي مرو علي بحياتي
فصول الكتاب كانت حلوة وخفيفة وواضحة وبدون اي دراما مو بحاجة لها وحرفيا بدون اي شيء يزعجك خصوصا من الاناث!!!!
شخصيات الاناث اتعب و أنا اقول حلوة ولما شفت ان الكاتبة انثى عرفت
السبب🔥
حزنت جدا على كاميل كنت اتمنى تبقى وتصير مع لينكولن لكن😢😢
الكتاب فيه الفصول الممتعة وفيه المشوقة لما وصلت لـ٧٠٪ منه استوعبت اني انا الحين في وسط الكتاب و (غالبا) تكون التشابترات مملة حيث انها تجهز للخاتمة الا انها كانت تشابترات حلوة !
اكيد فيه اسقاطات واشياء ما اعجبتني واشياء ما اسهبت فيهم الكاتبة ولا شرحتهم بشكل واضح حيث اني تمنيت ان الكاتبة استرسلت فيهم بعمق اكثر بس مع ذلك ما ضر الكتاب اطلاقا
شريت الكتاب الثاني والثالث من السلسلة ومتحمسة جدا لهم اتمنى يكونون قد الثقة وما يخيبون الظن
انصح فيه بشكل ممتاز و تمنيت لو انه مشهور اكثر لأنه يستحق فعلا انه يشتهر!
كاتبة رائعة بمعنى الكلمة فوق ما انها كاتبة عن شيء مكرر ومتعارف عليه بكثرة (خصوصا لي أنا حيث اني اعتقد اني شفت كل شيء عن الزومبيز) توقعت بتكون قصة الكتاب حبكتها ركيكة ومكرره الا انها تخطت كل توقعاتي ومره سعيدة بالكتاب اللي قريته لها.
انغمست مع لينكولن بكل تشابتر افعاله كانت منطقية وشخصيته تجنن واحيانا اشوف الواقع فيه، بكل بساطة اعتبره احد افضل الابطال اللي مرو علي بحياتي
فصول الكتاب كانت حلوة وخفيفة وواضحة وبدون اي دراما مو بحاجة لها وحرفيا بدون اي شيء يزعجك خصوصا من الاناث!!!!
شخصيات الاناث اتعب و أنا اقول حلوة ولما شفت ان الكاتبة انثى عرفت
السبب🔥
حزنت جدا على كاميل كنت اتمنى تبقى وتصير مع لينكولن لكن😢😢
الكتاب فيه الفصول الممتعة وفيه المشوقة لما وصلت لـ٧٠٪ منه استوعبت اني انا الحين في وسط الكتاب و (غالبا) تكون التشابترات مملة حيث انها تجهز للخاتمة الا انها كانت تشابترات حلوة !
اكيد فيه اسقاطات واشياء ما اعجبتني واشياء ما اسهبت فيهم الكاتبة ولا شرحتهم بشكل واضح حيث اني تمنيت ان الكاتبة استرسلت فيهم بعمق اكثر بس مع ذلك ما ضر الكتاب اطلاقا
شريت الكتاب الثاني والثالث من السلسلة ومتحمسة جدا لهم اتمنى يكونون قد الثقة وما يخيبون الظن
انصح فيه بشكل ممتاز و تمنيت لو انه مشهور اكثر لأنه يستحق فعلا انه يشتهر!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 1, 2018
I could not put this book down and quickly finished it in one day. I loved it! Lincoln is a prepper and has been waiting for this moment ever since he got caught in chaos during a hurricane. Then another tragedy starts and neighbors started eating each other. Lincoln is seriously my spirit animal, he is someone I would definitely try to be friends with even though he doesn't want to be close to anyone at first. I feel that he and Wayne made a great duo and I am curious as to what happens next. Plus I want to know will he see his home again? The only part I didn't like and its a small part was when they would hesitate to kill. I was seriously shouting just shoot them! Other than that this was an amazingly gory, funny, and tragic zombie read.
May 7, 2018
I receive this book for honest review.
Am also honor that my name in the her book. Thank you much!
What can I really say about this book.
Love the whole enter Zombie!
Now who doesn't love a sexy guy.
She him so sexy, rough, and awesome.
I have read two of her other book and the its the best one.
It action back in every page and every chapter. I didn't want to stop reading it at all but when it was bedtime I had to get my sleep but I sure did continue the next morning.
Love her writing it just perfect.
Hope to see other book!
Give me Bring me book 2!
Am also honor that my name in the her book. Thank you much!
What can I really say about this book.
Love the whole enter Zombie!
Now who doesn't love a sexy guy.
She him so sexy, rough, and awesome.
I have read two of her other book and the its the best one.
It action back in every page and every chapter. I didn't want to stop reading it at all but when it was bedtime I had to get my sleep but I sure did continue the next morning.
Love her writing it just perfect.
Hope to see other book!
Give me Bring me book 2!
January 20, 2021
Not even reading this book because my friend said it is the worst, most sexist, racist, toxicly masculine, fat-phobic book that she's ever read (and she's read some bad ones). Our group of friends shares books with each other, but she's just going to burn this book so none of the rest of us are tempted to read it and get as disgusted/disturbed as her. There are so many better zombie books out there to read.
February 24, 2024
Wild apocalypse!
I enjoyed this book so much that I was able to ignore the grammar errors most of the time, which is exceedingly rare for me. The action is nearly non-stop, there are several surprising moments plus, subtle humor sprinkled throughout. The protagonist has a definite issue with emotional people but, he begins to improve as the story rolls along. I’m already looking forward to book 2 of this series.
Read via Kindle Unlimited
I enjoyed this book so much that I was able to ignore the grammar errors most of the time, which is exceedingly rare for me. The action is nearly non-stop, there are several surprising moments plus, subtle humor sprinkled throughout. The protagonist has a definite issue with emotional people but, he begins to improve as the story rolls along. I’m already looking forward to book 2 of this series.
Read via Kindle Unlimited
June 9, 2025
A Good Read
The way this author words very complicated issues is amazing. It is still frustrating that good writers are still not brave enough to use the word "zombies" in their books but still want to be listed in the zombie category. It is a true nuisance to go from book to book with authors calling zombies empties, rotters, infected, unclean, Zeds, the list goes on and on. Beside of that it is a great start, looking forward to the next book.
The way this author words very complicated issues is amazing. It is still frustrating that good writers are still not brave enough to use the word "zombies" in their books but still want to be listed in the zombie category. It is a true nuisance to go from book to book with authors calling zombies empties, rotters, infected, unclean, Zeds, the list goes on and on. Beside of that it is a great start, looking forward to the next book.
March 18, 2025
I loved this book, both times I read it. I downloaded it today because I saw the author on TikTok - Booktok and I found her funny and sarcastic and thought I’d like a book written by her. And I realized I had already read the first book in the series. I reread it today and am now ready to read the next book in the series. Great author.
May 6, 2018
I enjoyed this book. Despite the title, the book has some very funny moments to help offset the more gory elements of the book. The author is very gifted in writing humor. She has room for improvement and I look forward to her future novels.
November 4, 2024
Can’t wait for the next!!!
I’ve never read a book from the point of an apocalyptic pepper before. The book starts out in the thick and just gets better from there. Many highs and lows throughout with a nail biting ending to get to the next book in the series! Highly recommend!
I’ve never read a book from the point of an apocalyptic pepper before. The book starts out in the thick and just gets better from there. Many highs and lows throughout with a nail biting ending to get to the next book in the series! Highly recommend!
May 7, 2018
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It had everything, gore, zombies, preppers, naive people and a whole lot of laughs from me!
Definitely recommending!!
Definitely recommending!!
July 20, 2018
A deliciously horrifying zombie novel!
July 8, 2023
very visual
I loved all the description and details in the scenes. Suspense kept me reading and I cannot wait to start book 2!!
I loved all the description and details in the scenes. Suspense kept me reading and I cannot wait to start book 2!!
February 20, 2025
Great read!
This books really had me glued to its pages. I didn't want to put it down. It had surprises at every turn.
This books really had me glued to its pages. I didn't want to put it down. It had surprises at every turn.
August 8, 2025
DNF for now... will read in the future. So far its good
Read
September 19, 2020If you like zombies, preppers, and were always curious about that shut-in next door, this is the book for you! A fun read with plenty of gore, guns and humor to keep you interested in the already interesting cast of characters. Sprinkle in a few heart wrenching moments and you've got yourself a solid start to this series.
April 24, 2018
@indie_blog_hop #partner ☢ Thank you to @indie_blog_hop and the author for the e-ARC of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Guns, Rations, Rigs, and The Undead by K.E. Radke. This books has it all preppers, Elvis, undead beings, the bothersome neighbor, some shady romance and a family fighting for their lives with no help from authorities. Every page is packed with action and nervous energy that will leave you wanting more. (Oh and I may or may not have a book crush on Lincoln because he is written as the sexiest man on the planet). This book is available for pre-order on Amazon now. ☢☢☢☢☢ Review also posted on Instagram @borenbooks, Twitter @jason_stacie , Go Read, Library Thing, and my blog at readsbystacie.com
May 2, 2018
A few weeks ago, after I did an Allo Author Interview with Kendra Radke, she asked if I would be interested in providing a pre-release review of her upcoming novel, Guns, Rations, Rigs and the Undead, and I jumped at the chance. I’m really, really glad I accepted, too.
Before I get into my review, I feel it’s fair to let you know that the copy I received had not yet been edited, therefore, I am not rating this book on the spelling or grammar as I typically do with my other reviews. This review is based solely on the content of the story and the author’s creative talents.
Let’s start off with the setting where most of the book takes place; Dessarillo, Texas, in a small, suburban housing community where everyone knows everyone. This is the place where the main character, Lincoln, has decided to live. Lincoln, is a prepper, which means he’s the type of person who prepares for the worst, and has turned his little neighborhood home into somewhat of a bunker. The neighborhood is frightened because of strange rumors they’ve heard, and they all want to come live with Lincoln now, since he was the only one who prepared.
The leader of the neighborhood crowd trying to persuade Lincoln to let some of them come live with him, is Lincoln’s neighbor, Wyatt. It’s clear in the beginning that these two do not like each other, each one preferring to shoot the other and then go have a beer, than actually working together in any way. But, fate sometimes has other plans.
Radke does a great job of character building, placing the two rivals into situations where, due to mutual advantage, they have to cooperate, mostly just to survive. She also artfully describes the zombie scenes, using plenty of gore and repulsive imagery, and she’s not afraid to pepper her dialogue with colorful language. Yeah, this is definitely not the kind of book you’ll be grabbing to the kiddos before bed. This is in-your-face, blood and guts, shoot first and ask questions later kind of story that, in all honesty, reminded me a lot of the movie Zombieland.
There is even a scene where the main characters are practicing their weapon skills in the backyard of one neighbor’s house, picking off the random zombies that happen to wander past, and the lady of the house comes out with a tray of drinks.
My favorite character of the story has to be Lincoln. He feels like a Tom Hardy kind of character with a little bit of edginess and a whole lot of snark. He fires off witty comebacks faster than he fires off his Glock, and even though he acts like he’s got a shell of titanium and doesn’t care about anyone, there is plenty of evidence throughout the story that says otherwise.
There were a few parts of the book that at first turned me off a bit. For one, the characters seem freakishly worried about trespassing, even just by entering their neighbor’s backyards. And, they seem a bit too nervous in the beginning about killing the zombies, as if the police might show up and arrest them for it. But as I got deeper into the book, I realized, these are nice, neighborly, law-abiding type folks that Lincoln chose to live nearby, and that makes the underlying humor of the whole situation even that much richer.
There are also a few ‘send the kids in the other room’ type scenes involving Lincoln and some female companions, but those scenes are not overly described or graphic in any way. Radke does reference genitalia a few times, but this is done using sixth-grade playground language, not college-level anatomy words.
The best part was by far the end. Radke throws in a plot twist I did NOT see coming, and now I’m going to be absolutely crazy waiting for Book 2 to come out!
Overall, the characters are a bit snarky and at times kind of strange, the zombie scenes were disturbingly gross, and the language at times was absolutely foul. I LOVED IT! It’s everything you’d want in an end-of-the-world zombie novel…and more! Radke’s story is brilliant!
Before I get into my review, I feel it’s fair to let you know that the copy I received had not yet been edited, therefore, I am not rating this book on the spelling or grammar as I typically do with my other reviews. This review is based solely on the content of the story and the author’s creative talents.
Let’s start off with the setting where most of the book takes place; Dessarillo, Texas, in a small, suburban housing community where everyone knows everyone. This is the place where the main character, Lincoln, has decided to live. Lincoln, is a prepper, which means he’s the type of person who prepares for the worst, and has turned his little neighborhood home into somewhat of a bunker. The neighborhood is frightened because of strange rumors they’ve heard, and they all want to come live with Lincoln now, since he was the only one who prepared.
The leader of the neighborhood crowd trying to persuade Lincoln to let some of them come live with him, is Lincoln’s neighbor, Wyatt. It’s clear in the beginning that these two do not like each other, each one preferring to shoot the other and then go have a beer, than actually working together in any way. But, fate sometimes has other plans.
Radke does a great job of character building, placing the two rivals into situations where, due to mutual advantage, they have to cooperate, mostly just to survive. She also artfully describes the zombie scenes, using plenty of gore and repulsive imagery, and she’s not afraid to pepper her dialogue with colorful language. Yeah, this is definitely not the kind of book you’ll be grabbing to the kiddos before bed. This is in-your-face, blood and guts, shoot first and ask questions later kind of story that, in all honesty, reminded me a lot of the movie Zombieland.
There is even a scene where the main characters are practicing their weapon skills in the backyard of one neighbor’s house, picking off the random zombies that happen to wander past, and the lady of the house comes out with a tray of drinks.
My favorite character of the story has to be Lincoln. He feels like a Tom Hardy kind of character with a little bit of edginess and a whole lot of snark. He fires off witty comebacks faster than he fires off his Glock, and even though he acts like he’s got a shell of titanium and doesn’t care about anyone, there is plenty of evidence throughout the story that says otherwise.
There were a few parts of the book that at first turned me off a bit. For one, the characters seem freakishly worried about trespassing, even just by entering their neighbor’s backyards. And, they seem a bit too nervous in the beginning about killing the zombies, as if the police might show up and arrest them for it. But as I got deeper into the book, I realized, these are nice, neighborly, law-abiding type folks that Lincoln chose to live nearby, and that makes the underlying humor of the whole situation even that much richer.
There are also a few ‘send the kids in the other room’ type scenes involving Lincoln and some female companions, but those scenes are not overly described or graphic in any way. Radke does reference genitalia a few times, but this is done using sixth-grade playground language, not college-level anatomy words.
The best part was by far the end. Radke throws in a plot twist I did NOT see coming, and now I’m going to be absolutely crazy waiting for Book 2 to come out!
Overall, the characters are a bit snarky and at times kind of strange, the zombie scenes were disturbingly gross, and the language at times was absolutely foul. I LOVED IT! It’s everything you’d want in an end-of-the-world zombie novel…and more! Radke’s story is brilliant!
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