City of the Dead (The Rising #2) in The Walking Read - A group for zombies and post-apoc fiction

Jun 15, 2021 Lucille Bransfield rated it it was amazing

I really enjoyed this book. I read the first book a while back and didn’t remember much. I was able to pick right up and get involved with the story. I loved the characters and all I can say is Wow what an awesome ending.

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Oct 06, 2014 Jonathan Echevarria rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: zombie-adventures, labyrinth-mythology

Everything dies, however not everything has a ending."

It's true that originally Brian Keene had no intentions of continuing his zombie story past The Rising. However those who read the introduction will know how happy he was to work on the sequel once he got started. Any fan of Brian Keene can see the fun he is having with this book, especially with some of the more creative encounters between The Siqqusim and the human survivors. Just like The Rising, City of the Dead is full of dark humor, so Everything dies, however not everything has a ending."

It's true that originally Brian Keene had no intentions of continuing his zombie story past The Rising. However those who read the introduction will know how happy he was to work on the sequel once he got started. Any fan of Brian Keene can see the fun he is having with this book, especially with some of the more creative encounters between The Siqqusim and the human survivors. Just like The Rising, City of the Dead is full of dark humor, so don't be surprised if you end up laughing out loud once in awhile. One really awesome aspect of this sequel is we get more insight behind Ob leader of the evil Siqqusim who possess the dead bodies of mankind. In the first book Ob barely got any real screen time, so it was really fun to see how he operated with his minions.

To call this series a another zombie story would be a great disservice to this sequel. It would be the same equivalent of calling the Evil Dead series another generic zombie movie. The only thing these zombies in City of the Dead share with the undead in the weakness for head shots. The creatures in this book have more in common with demon possession then the regular undead, the name for them are the Siqqusim and their leader Ob is one of the most bad ass villains I've ever read in a book. I should also note that his story does have a hopeful message beyond it's deceiving nihilistic exterior. We get to see a better brighter existence that waits for Jim and Danny beyond the world of the Dead.

This is my second time reading this book and I'm really glad I did. There is a large amount of expansion with Brian Keene's Labyrinth mythology for those who read his other books. We get more hints at what is in store for the other parallel Earths who have yet to suffer the wrath of the Thirteen. For anyone who is a fan of Brian Keene's work, reading both the authors preferred editions of the The Rising and City of the Dead is a absolute must. Especially when you consider the authors preferred editions allow the author to actually receive compensation for his books. (Where as the inferior mass market edition has yet to give the author what is rightfully his.)

Five out of Five stars for the entire series for this die hard Brian Keene fan! ...more

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May 31, 2014 Jonathan Echevarria rated it it was amazing

Shelves: zombie-adventures

If you have just stumbled upon this book, I would strongly recommend the City of the Dead: Author's Preferred Edition over this mass market paperback version instead.

City of the Dead Author's Preferred Edition by Brian Keene

Also if you are looking for the book that comes before this one. (It's a two part story.) Then you should read the uncut The Rising: Author's Preferred Edition. It restores nearly 30,000 words and cleans up the original errors and none of it feels like filler.

The Rising Author's Preferred Edition by Brian Keene

I am peacefully protesting the mass market paperback versions, b ...more

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Jan 22, 2012 Lena rated it liked it

Well, Mr. Keene certainly isn't fond of a happy ending is he? This was an OK book. Quite the sequel. The thing that made it not so great for me is I just wasn't attached to any of the characters. Lots of gore. ...more

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