TW Brown

The Ugly Beginning isn't anything new when it comes to zombie stories. That's okay though, since hardly anything is. You can't win them all. The book isn't going to win any awards for prose, but I don't think that's what it set out to do; I think it set out to share entertaining snapshots of very differently styled characters as they react (sometimes in an over the top way) to the oncoming zombie apocalypse. I think this book is probably meant to serve as a mouth-watering appetizer to the Dead series' entree, but I'm not entirely sure if it works or not. Maybe for some people? I haven't even decided if its captured enough of my interest to continue on. Perhaps the full series, given more time with characters and plots is much more engaging?

I'll just end the review with a shrug and a "not bad."… (plus d'informations)

My original DEAD: Alone audiobook review and many others can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.

Volume two picks up right where volume one leaves off. Evan, now convinced he is infected, leaves his companions to do one or two last good deeds for his dog and friends. His adventures continue to lead him astray as he meets new survivors, some friendly, some horribly evil. He is forced to face his own nature as he has to fight the living, perhaps descending into a murderer in the process.

We see much more of the evolving world as Evan fights for his diminishing life. White supremacists and other groups are starting to divide up the crumbling landscape into fiefdoms. He desperately tries to remain true to his morals as he watches his own humanity slip away.

The zombie apocalypse, though still recent, is more deeply revealed in this second installment. Evan holds onto his last grasp of his past as he wants to do just one more good deed for his dog. This fixation makes him relatable, even though it puts him in extreme and continual danger. He’s lasted longer than any other infected person and he’s planned his short future on this one questionable fact.

The story is more interesting and elaborate than the first volume. And if you’ve enjoyed the first installment, you will very likely like this one even more.

Once again, TW Brown performs his own novel. The listener is used to his voice and flaws by this point and just goes with it. Here is a recap from a review of the narrator from the first novel: Brown’s voice is pleasant enough, sometimes stumbling over phrases and not always differentiating the characters well. His female and male characters sometimes morph into each other. On the other hand, he lends a personal tone to the story. No one knows a story better than the author and the listener gets just a little more depth from certain characters for it. It is a personal taste and one can’t really say if his reading is a positive or negative, adding in some ways and detracting in others.

Dead Alone is better than the first book, both in depth and detail. It is basically a retake on the many zombie stories. But by book two you are invested in the characters and want to see how Evan and his friends get out of impossible situations. You’ve read book one, keep going for more gruesome zombie fun. You’ll likely want to listen to the sequel(s) too.

Audiobook was provided for review by the author.… (plus d'informations)

My original DEAD: Onset audiobook review and many others can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.

Evan Berry loves music and is looking forward to his first day as a music teacher at the local school. Too bad it is the day the world devolves into zombie chaos. He is the ordinary man in an impossible situation, forced to accept the death/turning of his fiancé and loss of everything and everything he knows. He has to rise to the situation or be eaten alive with everyone else.

Carl, the shop teacher is more than ready for the breakdown of civilization and helps Evan through his denial. Together they protect an unlikely group, a cranky middle-aged teacher and two children against the hungry hordes of zombies and the evil living.

The slightly different take on the overcrowded zombie genre is welcome, though Even quickly evolves into the standard kill or be killed apocalypse hero. Evan often thinks about and refers to the many zombie movies and how his zombie reality is so different. The thing is, it isn’t that different, or at least not different enough to be noteworthy. The story does keep a backdrop of humor and a doesn’t take-itself-too-seriously tone that is very welcome. It softens the gruesome parts but also dulls the poignant scenes. It may not ground breaking, but it is fun and entertaining.

The story is performed by the author. His voice is pleasant enough, but is difficult at first to get into the story as he stumbles over phrases and doesn’t always differentiate the characters well. His female and male characters sometimes morph into each other. On the other hand, he lends a personal tone to the story. No one knows a story better than the author and the listener gets just a little more depth from certain characters for it. It is a personal taste and one can’t really say if his reading is a positive or negative, adding in some ways and detracting in others.

Onset Dead is a fun zombie story with enough humor and flawed humanity to give us just a little bit different take on the many zombie stories. There is plenty of gruesome chomping and hapless, dirty survivors fighting for their lives. If you are zombie lover, you will probably never get enough, so give this one a go.

Audiobook was provided for review by the author.… (plus d'informations)