Tag Archives: zombies

Feb 21 2017

AudioBook Review – DeathMatch – Arisen book 11

This series is by far the longest I’ve listened to, and would do again. This turned me into a zombie fan!

Review as follows –

Deathmatch: Arisen, Book 11 | [Michael Stephen Fuchs]
Deathmatch: Arisen, Book 11
UNABRIDGED
Reviewed: 19/02/17

“More, more, more.”

This has been the longest series I’ve listened to, and I’m on the edge for the next. This series is so addictive, you just can’t even compare it to TWD which I only went to watch after this amazing series. You can’t compare it.

Of course theres some things that will always make us cringe characters here are so deep, so into the ZA that life is everything, means everything and is so tough, they do crazy things.

It was awesome to get back into this, and from the beginning till the end I was heart in mouth. Just loved it. I know there’s not much more to go in the series, and I waited patiently for this one, I really can’t wait to see how this all draws to an end, to who survives to who makes it with the scars they all already have. I’m going to seriously miss this story and these characters. The best writing and narration team on the planet. Just amazing.

(I will not buy the e-book to find out, I will wait, I will) honest!!! but you guys are killing me here. I so want the next one.

🙂

Dec 6 2016

AudioBook Review – Arisen Series 7-10

Slow to post these, but THIS IS THE BEST series I’ve come across so far, like really, really.

RC Bray nails this, and I totally had to buy more of the books he narrated, introducing me to loads more great writers.

Death of Empires: Arisen, Book 7 | [Michael Stephen Fuchs, Glynn James]
Death of Empires: Arisen, Book 7
UNABRIDGED
Reviewed: 13/11/16

“A slower pace”

Overall
Performance
Story

As far as this series goes, it’s pretty awesome. I’ve breezed through the books just wanting the next, and the next, this one did have a much slower pacing, with some flashbacks, and I think that was okay. It can’t all be so fast-paced, we as readers and listener do need a break.

Great work as usual to both writers and of course, the narrator, he’s been totally awesome throughout the whole series.

Book 8 –

Empire of the Dead: Arisen, Book 8 | [Michael Stephen Fuchs, Glynn James]
Empire of the Dead: Arisen, Book 8
UNABRIDGED
Reviewed: 13/11/16

“It’s back!”

Overall
Performance
Story

This defo picks up the pace once more, nothing that the operators go through here is easy. And it’s action packed once again.

From the JFK fighting for its life against the Russian cruiser, to which the injured command lets the ship down in the biggest way, once again not believing what he’s told about the Russian’s and their own operators, thank goodness for Homer, what a guy. And some just totally on the edge scenes.

I really, also enjoyed the UK scenes in here, I think and believe this is exactly how London might fall in the ZA. It’s just so almost true you really can believe it, and of course, One Troop really do fight tooth and nail, almost as much as the operators.

Excellent listen and sped through these like a demon. 🙂 (where is the next books 11 and 12) haha

Book 8.5 –

“Excellent side story!”

Overall
Performance
Story

I was a little unsure of this one because of how it sat in the series, but I was pleasantly surprised, it wasn’t a bad trip backwards at all.

This really set up and let me understand how and what happened at the start of the ZA and some of the reasons to why. I can totally see the next book getting really complicated and scary and all sides coming together for a big fight.

I was so excited to get to the end of this, and move forwards. Thank you for the huge amount of weekly entertainment this has totally made my start to love zombies. Not sure if that’s a good thing, as I started watching TWD as well. haha.

Fab job from all parties as well. 5 stars for this one.

Book 9 –

 

Cataclysm: Arisen, Book 9 | [Michael Stephen Fuchs]
Cataclysm: Arisen, Book 9
UNABRIDGED
Reviewed: 13/11/16

“Such bad luck for them, sigh”

Overall
Performance
Story

I really have had a blast with these, but there are some really hit and miss sections of just pure bad luck. These guys are so highly trained, yet they do make the really craziest mistakes. I can forgive it because they’re Zombie and fantasy books, with a whole lot of real life, character situations and days without sleep. But they’re still pretty daft mistakes, that I really do hope highly trained people wouldn’t make.

However, this is one of the most entertaining series I have had the pleasure of listening to, and the action and character development, even if sometimes things seem odd, is brilliantly done. Yes, I am now a big fan, and I don’t mind admitting it. I just went to look up the writers and narrator on facebook….

Thanks for being so awesome. (PS I saw book 11 is on the cards for audio, squee)

B00k 10 –

The Flood: Arisen, Book 10 | [Michael Stephen Fuchs]
The Flood: Arisen, Book 10
UNABRIDGED
Reviewed: 13/11/16

“Fab, just don’t want it to end!”

Overall
Performance
Story

With everything coming to a head, things are just so tense, all the time. These guys haven’t had a decent break, and I’m glad that at least there are somethings that keep on being the usual!

I was literally on the edge of my seat while driving and listening to this. There was such desperation, such heartfelt emotions and inner soul searching from everyone in this book. I don’t want it to go wrong, I love these characters, all of them, I’ve lived with them for the last few weeks, day in day out, 5 hours a day! I really want the next audiobooks, but I know they’re not done yet. I will have to wait and I think that will kill me. haha. Best audiobook hangover EVER. Thank you guys.

Book 0.5 –

“Great Intro listen to at anytime.”

Overall
Performance
Story

As I said above, this is a great addition, and you can really listen to it at anytime. I got through all the 12 books and then had the worst hangover, so this was a nice addition to the series. The two Seals with the guys in here, are fab characters, both fought till their last breath, as said in the main series, but going through it with them is hard on the emotions.

Great job to both writer and narrator. Ray is now one of my fav’s and I’m already on another series he narrated 🙂

Oct 16 2016

AudioBook Review – Arisen book 4-6

 

I have been flying through these and there’s no other explanation that I’m really enjoying them. I have been a little nervous as I saw that the last few books aren’t out as audio yet! What am I going to do, I hope they’re soon on their way.

Anyways, the reviews this time were pretty short and sweet, because I really am fascinated with this world.

Maximum Violence: Arisen, Book 4 | [Michael Stephen Fuchs, Glynn James]
Maximum Violence: Arisen, Book 4
UNABRIDGED
Reviewed: 13/10/16

“Enjoying these :)”

I must admit, I wasn’t sure if I should get all the books, but I did, (now up to book 7) and I’m enjoying them through the whole of the series.

I do think there were a few cringe-worthy mistakes here in regards to the character/story, but I also do think that the authors also gave some convincing reasons as to why those happened. I guess no one is totally infallible and that is what the Special Ops guys are supposed to be.

Still, very entertaining series, 🙂 Thanks for bringing this to my ears and keeping me from going insane at work haha.

——————–

Exodus: Arisen, Book 5 | [Michael Stephen Fuchs, Glynn James]
Exodus: Arisen, Book 5
UNABRIDGED
Reviewed: 13/10/16

“Awesome!”

I really hoped we’d follow Sarah and Homer to some extent through this last book and maybe even some of this, but we didn’t.

I did enjoy this a lot, the action was totally intense, will they, won’t they. Just brilliant and totally had me on the edge of my seat. However, that ending, so worth it. This was one of the more exciting parts to this series, at least so far for me. I’m wondering how on earth the authors manage to keep up this level of intensity, but they really do a great job.

RC is also one of the best narrators I’ve listened to, I love his Yorkshire and English accents, yeah maybe not quite what I’m used to as I live here, but they’re pretty realistic. 🙂

——

The Horizon: Arisen, Book 6 | [Michael Stephen Fuchs, Glynn James]
The Horizon: Arisen, Book 6
UNABRIDGED
Reviewed: 16/10/16

“A little bit of calm”

To say that the last 5 books were just a zillion miles a minute would be putting it mildly, but after the huge battle to save the JFK this was a good time to take a breather, recoup, think things through. See what and how these guys and gals can move forwards.

This doesn’t mean that this part isn’t thrilling, there are some real scary situations for everyone, from the surviving tunnelers, and the ops mission to retrieve the BioForce. It can’t get any harder for these people, but it does, and it still manages to have us on the edge of our seats, everything is riding on these huge tasks to come together and all at the right time. It’s not going to be easy, there are some huge losses and it tests everyone to their utmost ‘give’ up level.

Excellent narration as ever, I am not gonna be happy when this series is over, I’ll have a major book hangover. Well an audiobook hangover….

Oct 13 2016

AudioBook Review – Arisen Omnibus Edition

First Ever Zombie listen, and wow what a series – I’m now actually on book 7 at the moment, haha, in-between other reviews of course. 🙂

—————

Arisen Omnibus Edition: Books 1-3 | [Michael Stephen Fuchs, Glynn James]
Arisen Omnibus Edition: Books 1-3
UNABRIDGED
Reviewed: 05/10/16

“First Zombie listen!”

Overall
Performance
Story

I have to admit, I’m a sci fi girl, but I picked this up because I’d some credits to spare and liked that it’s 3 books in one. Bargain.

I liked the read up and being a Brit thought yey, someone who might actually get us a little. I did think that R.C struggled just a little in the first book with the brit accents, but by the time I’d got through to the third, I think he’d really settled into it and I began to enjoy the whole performance.

When the end of the world hits, there’s Britain and by sheer luck managed to batten down the hatches and stay alive….. that is until one of the zombies digs its way out the channel tunnel from France. (and what an ordeal for those still in the tunnel)

I have to say the characters also started out a bit flat. 2D kinda military people who just seemed to get on and do their job no matter what was thrown at them, but by the end of book 3 I’d started to really connect with them all. The military bravado is just that, a huge attempt to just get on with the really crap situations these guys just seemed to keep finding themselves in.

So, top and bottom of it. I enjoyed spending the 15 hours with these die hard characters, so much so I went and bought the rest of the series. And am already on book 5 🙂

Thanks to both narrator and writers, who together made a really good team, and I’m looing forward to seeing how this all plays out.

Apr 18 2016

AudioBook Review – WormWood Dawn Ep 1-3

I had the wonderful opportunity to listen to this series, last week. With the hope of buying more!
I’ve never really been into Zombies, or the Apocolypse, but I admit this was fun, scary and the characters go through so much, I really enjoyed them all.
You can pick up the series from –
My reviews are as follows 🙂
Episode 1
“Pretty scary suff! “
What did you love best about Wormwood Dawn?

I’m not an active horror pursuer, but I do like zombie films, so this was a good change. I loved the sense of humour of the main character, Dan.

What did you like best about this story?

It has to be Dan, as the world ends around him he’s just so bent on getting wasted still that you just can’t help but feel for him. A normal day starts out and ends pretty badly for him. The end of the world and he’s goosed, but his outlook is still awesome.

What about Clifford Edwards’s performance did you like?

This was the first one I’ve listened to from Cliff, and I enjoyed the fun he brought to Dan’s character, in the darkest moments, Dan’s thoughts are delivered with just the right amount of sarcastic and edge that you really do believe he’s telling you his life story. Great job.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

There were some pretty gruesome moments, and at the time I started to listen to this, 6am in the UK, there was a nice blanket of Fog, which I was driving though! the atmosphere created with the narration and my actual life was just so freaky, it scared me silly. haha.

Any additional comments?

I’ve listened to all three so far, so I’m going to post a longer review on story and content there.

Thanks!

 

Episode 2 

“Great second episode!”
Would you consider the audio edition of Wormwood Dawn, Episode II to be better than the print version?

I haven’t personally read the book, but the narration always adds another dimension to a story. Because they put so much into the acting. There is a lot of work gone into this and it’s obvious. 🙂

What other book might you compare Wormwood Dawn, Episode II to and why?

I’m not a huge zombie reader, so can’t really compare, I do however like the Dawn of the Dead movies, and Shaun of the Dead, which is the more comedic version. I defo love the comedy side of this, and the eery side. It’s not quite zombies, but mutations as well, so it adds that extra layer, which is horrid and gruesome, but fascinating as well.

What does Clifford Edwards bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The humour, Dan’s inner dialogue can be so brilliant. Like you’re thinking it, but Clifford delivers perfectly.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I’m not so sure ‘moved’ is the right term, but there are plenty of ‘egggh’ and ‘yuk’ moments, described very well and given just the right tone in delivery that you really do feel utter sick by the gruesome monsters in this story.

Any additional comments?

Nope, reserving it for the third 🙂

Ep 3

“Just gets better! “
What did you love best about Wormwood Dawn, Episode III?

These characters are just so ‘real’ that the story is fab and this episode is by far the best as things come to a real head for the group…

What was one of the most memorable moments of Wormwood Dawn, Episode III?

There have been a few good memorable moments throughout the series so far. I have to say that Dan’s own internal transformation is starting to rock. He started out such a loser, that bumbled along with his life and he really made you feel sorry for his stupid life, but here he is fighting for survival with friends, and friends he now cares about. What a change in his whole attitude.

What does Clifford Edwards bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Again, just the whole tone and characterisation of all the characters, he does a great job with them. Personality and flare.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, I listened to all three in three days. I drive for a living, and can listen to 4 hours or more a day, this was a great way to spend my time. 🙂

Any additional comments?

Okay, so some major thoughts here…. I can’t not say that the recording quality difference was apparent from ep 1 and 2 to this one. But, it certainly doesn’t detract from the effort by the narrator or the written story. In all honesty I actually think it added to the ambience of the world Edward created.

I also have to admit here, that because I listened to them all at once, 3 days in a row, I can’t remember which Ep certain key moments are in, but I’ll mention the ones that stick in my mind the most.

The fact that Dan is a loser and a drunken one at that, is kinda hard to get into at first, he really doesn’t help himself at all be being as he is. His life seems so meaningless and his outlook is pretty bleak. But he’s funny, and that carries him, I like his attitude even though it is pretty selfish. Drink or pills, and I’m kinda glad he changed his mind and went for the pills. I actually don’t read the blurbs or other reviews, so when it started off, I had no real clue it was a proper horror/zombie story.

The sickness is awful and described very well, makes you feel yuk yourself. What I liked about this one more than anything is that Dan’s now got a friend and I don’t mean the cat… although that was one horrible and scary darned cat, you know 😦 I felt sorry for it, can understand why Dan did too.

EP 2 This is a more interesting Ep because of Drew, and the bulletin board, meeting Jake is very cool, the dog also, although I was worried it would end up like the cat. There are some amazing creepy things going on with the whole world. The cat, the fact the horse is bitten and we know it’s going to turn, (just when) and then the psycho serial killer whose house they burn down. Gee what a neighbourhood this guy lives in, I kinda think no wonder he was a drunk.

The third guy they team up with while out getting supplies is sad, he loses his brother here and that does suck. They’re really up against a lot of crap here and now and it really hits the fan towards the ending when the rogue military groups turn up and start to blast his house apart. However we think that he’s going to be captured, and he’s not, it’s this psycho killer who nabs him, the one whose diary he’s been reading and finding out about, the shocking truth is that he’s alive and changing! into what we’ve no idea, but it’s not looking good for Dan if he’s ended up in this guys clutches….

So, overall I really enjoyed these so far, I was given them so I’d provide honest feedback, and I have, however, I’m now off to buy the next installment! haha.

Thank you very much Clifford and Edward for a very entertaining few days. 🙂