The Engraded - The Outbreak: A Shay Donovan Post-Apocalyptic Thriller is a fun, entertaining story. As far as zombie books go - it is fairly standard, except for one critical detail. And I can't divulge that since it isn't known until toward the end of the book. Oh, that critical detail is not that these zombies can "run, jump and climb." This is rather common as well.
There is a nice mixture of characters, but the only one I tended to care about was Kai. He started out as muscle-for-hire for Hoc, a CDC doctor. He quickly evolves into a decent leader. Ike and Beau fill in for Redneck/Cowboy and Injun dynamic. I'm not exactly sure of the reasoning behind the designed conflict of those characters. But, I suppose it will flesh out through other installments.
The lead heroine, Shay, is rather annoying. I got tired of the damn God-talk. She is not a fan of guns, even after the lack of fandom causes a blow to her family. She freaks out (back story is revealed) around them. But, with one quick lesson, she becomes neutral and a decent shot. I guess I put this up there with normal, suspend-belief zombie lore.
Oh, it appears Shay is also a quick-magnet for sexual harassment (like the last couple days). That will make much more sense if you read the book. I don't know if the author was using sexual conflict as a vehicle to paint Shay as a victim and survivor? If so, it fell flat with me.
Some of these reviews that call for automatic movie - best read ever...well, I looked and a lot of the reviewers have one or a few reviews posted. I'm not saying anything definitive, but it does make me think "author friends and family." Okay, with that out of the way --
There is a lot of potential for story continuance. It may turn out pretty damn fun.
3 of 5 Stars
From the Publisher: (note the pretentious pitch at the end)
What would you do if your world was suddenly thrown into chaos? Surrounded by death and destruction, would you be able to adapt and survive?
This thrilling new novel tells the story of a soccer mom turned soldier. Shay Donovan is separated from her family during an outbreak where millions of infected humans become ENRAGED, destroying in their path and killing anyone they see. Shay finds herself in a brutal fight for her life in a desperate attempt to find her husband and two young daughters.
This novel, is much different than other zombie stories. Shay is an average American house wife, finds herself alone during an outbreak where those who are infected become ENRAGED. Different from the zombies in The Walking Dead (TWD), these zombies can run, jump and climb. Shay is saved from certain death by a stranger and joins a group of survivors, L.A. to the mountains where they think they'll be safe.
But, they can't run and they can't hide as hoards of flesh eaters hunt down the remaining survivors.
Petrified of guns and violence Shay is forced to step out of her comfort zone as she desperately searches for her family realizing that if she doesn't kill the zombies, the zombies will kill her. Shay finds herself in a world of kill or be killed and if she's going to survive, she must become a killer.
The novel also tells the story of Shay's husband, JT, a normal guy and his friend Porter who is a Navy SEAL as they attempt to escape the zombies with three little girls. Because these zombies can run, the men are forced to fight the flesh eaters as they seek to find refuge before winter sets in. The zombies aren't the only enemy as other humans and Mother Nature herself make several attempts at their lives as the world literally crumbles around them.
The novel moves quickly and you will wonder if the zombies will ever stop coming. When you open this dystopian zombie apocalypse novel, you will fall right in as the world of The Enraged will become a world you live in too and you'll began to wonder if you'll ever escape.
[Pretentious bit I was referring to...and not grammatically correct]
This is a series of novels that is destined to become an New York Times Best Sell and definitely a Top Selling Novel in the zombie - Walking Dead genre.