I am extremely picky when it comes to zombie novels, but Damien Lee's debut novel didn't disappoint. I'm going to have to put him at the top of my zombie author list as I absolutely loved this British zompoc. It sunk its teeth into me from the beginning and just wouldn't let go. Fast-paced, and exciting, there were moments throughout that had me on the edge of my seat.
I loved the contrast between Amy, who is a nurse working in a hospital; and Frank, a murderer doing time in a high-security prison. It kind of highlights the fact that it doesn't matter who you are, or were, before the outbreak, it all comes down to humanity in the end. Ultimately, the virus isn't selective and whoever is left has to work together to survive. But, as we know, human beings can be the worst monsters of all, especially when it comes to survival. It's always interesting to see how people interact with one another, and what decisions they make, in this type of scenario.
The character building was really good, and, although there are some you will either love or hate, Damien has done a good job of keeping this balanced to keep you invested in everyone. I wanted to know what was going to happen to my favourite characters, as well as the ones that rubbed me up the wrong way. I actually cared, which can be rare with a book with a few characters to keep tabs on, especially when there are some undesirables amongst the bunch.
The gore factor, which is so important for this genre, was done so well. I never thought for a moment that it was over the top or unrealistic. Sometimes zombie novels have a tendency to go overboard with this, to the point it's ridiculous, but I felt Damien kept everything believable, while still making me wince, which is, honestly, a job well done.
I am now going to be devouring Damien's follow-up, The Host, as I can't wait to find out where this apocalyptic adventure is going to take me next.