Zombie Attack! 1 Rise of the Horde by Devan Sagliani
When 16 year old Xander's older brother Moto left him at Vandenberg Airforce Base he only had one request - don't leave no matter what. But there was no way he could have known that one day zombies would gather into groups big enough to knock down walls and take out entire buildings full of people. That was before the rise of the horde!
Now Xander is on the run, fleeing south to Port Hueneme to locate his brother with nothing but his martial arts training and the katana blade left to him. Along the way he'll have to fight for his life against other survivors, neo-Nazi's, outlaw bikers, gang bangers, cannibals, cult members, and a seemingly endless sea of flesh hungry zombies.
But Xander is far from alone. Traveling with him are Benji, a 12 year old comic book geek, and Felicity Jane, a childhood celebrity with wild mood swings. Will they make it together in one piece to the safe zone or will they become the next meal for a hungry horde of wild zombies?
Zombie Attack! Rise of the Horde is filled with pulse pounding undead action from the very first chapter up until the bitter sweet end. From rock stars and celebrities to false prophets and miracle workers, this book has it all! The story takes off like a bullet and doesn't slow down until the last sentence. You won't be able to put it down!
253 pages, published by Permuted PressStraying from the usual plot of trying to create a stronghold and stand their ground, Zombie Attack! Rise of the Horde takes us on the road. Trying to get to his brothers military base, Xander picks up new comrades along the way. In Sagliani's world, where zombies aren't the only monsters roaming the streets, Xander and his friends face neo-Nazis, marauders, cults and other evils of a fallen society.
Where all it takes is a single bite, this group of misfits suffer the loss of loved ones, childhood idols, and each other. Xander, jaded and suspicious, displays instincts and common sense far beyond his years. Trained by his soldier half brother, Moto, Xander is skilled in martial arts and wields my favorite weapon...the katana. Unassuming Benji looks to Xander for direction like a lost puppy dog. Xander takes Benji under his wing, protecting him from the torments of man and zombie alike. These two fast friends come across teen actress Felicity Jane. Having fallen victim to the child actor stereotype of substance abuse, Felicity Jane manages to pull herself together and team up with Xander and Benji.
No zombie book would be complete without a few religious zealots. Sagliani manages to sneak in my favorite apocalyptic quote "the dead shall walk the earth because Hell is overflowing and there is no more room for them". And doesn't it just figure that during the apocalypse, the only things left airing on TV are The Jersey Shore and Jackass!?
Appropriate for the Young Adult masses it was written for, Zombie Attack! Rise of the Horde balances the right amount of horror and emotion. Sagliani manages to pull out another winner. The characters were relatable and genuine. The story was fast-paced and unexpected. I love that Sagliani hints at the possibility of zombies having a hive mind and working together.
Keep an eye out for book two of the Zombie Attack series, coming to the shelves early 2014. A fan of Devan Sagliani's writing? Check out The Bookie Monsters review of his new book,a Undead L.A., and don't forget to read our exclusive interview with this talented author.
If you would like to pick up a copy on Amazon, click on the above book jacket. Click here to purchase on Smashwords.
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