Julie Dawn

I loved the synopsis for this book. I love zombie books so I was excited about this one. That it involved a Native American legend and was set in a park just sweetened it. So what went wrong for me? Characters for starters. I found that there wasn't a single one I cared about. Matter of fact, I started hoping the zombies would win. I get that they were young college students, military and rangers. I guess I could excuse stupidity and promiscuity in the college students. Maybe even the military guys. I get that people are still going to have sex during the apocalypse. Maybe some will seek it just because it gives them a sense of normalcy. But this was just insane. Take Elizabeth, (literally, go ahead. Everyone else has and she doesn't object.). In the beginning she is so in love with Dominic. They are a couple and have plans to marry. She even has a ring. Then her parents die. She seeks comfort from Dominic who steps up to the plate and holds her all night. Then when she goes off to class but finds that, due to grief, she cannot continue on to the class. She goes back to her room where she encounters Dominic doing the deed with her roommate. She breaks it off with him because fidelity means so much to her. Stuff happens, (read the book if you want to know what), but then she finds that special comfort from a female friend, then a male friend, then x, y and z. It doesn't even seem to bother this girl that some are sick and possibly infected or that they aren't in a remotely safe area. Because fidelity and loyalty matter, (as does safety). Yeah. O-o-okay. So I have absolutely zero feelings for the heroine of this tale. The rest are no better. I know it is a zombie book and things move fast but some kind of character building has to happen. For me, I need to care about the heroine, (though I would have settled for caring about anyone at all). The plot was a bit scattered feeling for me, even given that I expect things to move fast. Things happened that I just didn't get. The author has a good foundation for an awesome book. In my opinion, she should revisit it. Flesh out her characters a little. Decide what type of novel she wants it to be, (I felt like the book couldn't decide if it was going for a legend, horror, erotica or explicit YA), and move the story toward that. Let us connect with a character and feel their fear, hurt and anger. I felt like sex was being used as a filler. I don't mind sex in a z book. I just want it to make sense and really be a part of the story. The plot has the potential to be awesome. Instead I was left feeling scattered. I don't think the author is a bad writer either, (there were scenes that showed her potential and it is those that got the stars). I just feel that she put in too many things and her story got lost.

I participated in the Spring Into Horror Readathon and won a copy of this book. I would like to thank Michelle from Seasons of Reading blog and the author for providing a copy of her book as a prize. I truly do appreciate being able to read your book. No review was required or requested. The opinions expressed are my own. You may have a different experience.… (meer)