Unlike Katy Perry who liked doing that thing she always wanted to do, I didn’t find the highly appreciated Dead Drunk: Surviving The Zombie Apocalypse… One Beer at a Time by Richard Johnson that entertaining. So why am I writing about this?
As you probably know already from my recommendations, I am an avid zombie book reader, and for some reason I never came upon Dead Drunk – which is actually a series of zombie apocalypse books. After seeing it recommended lately here and there and after a few friends who share my love for zombie literature said I should give it a try, I did.
But I didn’t like it.
Dead Drunk: Surviving The Zombie Apocalypse… One Beer at a Time was originally released back in 2013 and I keep thinking if that’s the reason why I found it so meh. Zombie literature has evolved a bit, maybe, stuff like that has been written already… I don’t really know. But for me, this book was not enjoyable.
It seems to be on similar terms with Mark Tufo’s work, but it’s nowhere near the Zombie Fallout series. Based on the title, you’d think that you’re going to get a humorous take on the zombie apocalypse genre, but that’s not the case either. Or at least the jokes and everything that happens isn’t as fun as the author probably wanted them to be.
(Quick detour! If you’re looking for a more humorous take on the zombie apocalypse, I’d recommend trying the Escape Room Z printable escape room game. I played it for a game night with my friends and was quite impressed – check out my review here)
Even more, the fact that I really disliked about this book – which might change with new ones in the series, but I will surely never read to find out – was that it had so little zombie action!
The book starts with some unnecessarily extended intro where we meet the characters and where the author tries to squeeze in jokes and funny things (which, I must repeat, I didn’t find that funny at all) and during the story itself, it has even more flashbacks that just increase the length of the book but don’t add any other value otherwise – like the former MMA guy’s fight that really adds no value to the thing and doesn’t really help at all.
Seeing that the book has so many positive reviews, I can only think that it’s my problem that I don’t find this book enjoyable. The main characters are immature and plain stupid, you can’t really relate to any and you will never care about their future, you can barely remember their names even though the author does manage to build some solid stereotypes in his novel.
The humor itself – which I believe should be the book’s biggest selling point – is of a questionable quality, filled with frat-jokes coming from grown-ups and the whole thing is so filled with cliches that it makes your head spin. I must repeat – I am not sure if all these cliches would’ve been noticed in 2013 when the book was originally released, since zombie literature wasn’t really a thing back then, but today, after reading tens of zombie novels, this one doesn’t manage to stand out, unfortunately.
And that upsets me, because I was really hoping for a good read!
Zombie books just keep churning themselves out like… well… zombies! But I’ve selected another prime pick for you guys.
I would also love to hear from you at the end of this article: what are your favorite zombie books?
Let’s get right into it!
The Burning World: A Warm Bodies Novel – Isaac Marion
Although I am not the biggest fan of this type of zombie novels and I wasn’t a huge fan of the original Warm Bodies novel either, I understand that many zombie fiction lovers – and not only – enjoy it, so it has to be shared. It’s one of the most successful zombie series in mainstream media, so at least for that it deserves some recognition. Here’s what you can expect from this book:
“How do you fight an enemy that’s in everyone? Can the world ever really change? With their home overrun by madmen, R, Julie, and their ragged group of refugees plunge into the otherworldly wastelands of America in search of answers. But there are some answers R doesn’t want to find. A past life, an old shadow, crawling up from the basement.”
The Old Man at the End of the World – AK Silversmith
I actually found out about this book from a comment on the blog and was intrigued by it. I mean, there are not a lot of zombie novels in which the main character is am 87-year old man who’s slower than the zombies themselves. A hilarious romp, in the end with a single complaint: it was way too short! Here’s a bit from the book’s description:
“Gerald’s life takes a quick turn for the worse, he must do things he has never done before. After 87 largely well-behaved years as a model citizen, less than four hours into the ‘zompocalypse’ and he has already killed a neighbour, rescued a moody millenial drug dealer and forged an unlikely allegiance with a giant ginger Scotsman. And it isn’t even tea time.”
Safe Haven: Rise of the Rams – Christopher Artinian
The planet has succumbed to a monstrous virus. Those who die from the infection return as savage predators hell-bent on spreading the virus to the rest of the human population. The UK and Ireland are the last hold-outs, but when the infrastructure supporting their self-imposed quarantine collapses, it’s everyone for themselves.
Another zombie apocalypse book that’s not set in the US and a nice read overall, showing a different approach in a country where weapons are not piled up at all corners. Nothing special, but still a really enjoyable read.
Although it’s more about a post-apocalyptic world and an adventure in that world and a lot less about zombies or the infected, this is a really promising beginning of a new series. Surprisingly well written – but do check the preview to make sure that this is your type of book! Here’s a bit of the plot:
Ten years after a pandemic swept the globe, survivors were forced into factions and camps in order to survive… Jade and Sera are two orphans who have found refuge in a government camp. It is there where Jade falls in love with a young soldier, Anyon. But Anyon has his own secrets, carefully guarding a past that involves Sera. But before Jade and Anyon admit their feelings to each other the camp is attacked and they’re separated.
when Jack’s mother passes away in a freak car accident involving a half-eaten deer and a pack of cigarettes, he knows something’s up. Now, Jack and his fiancé Darlene are forced to go back to his dreaded hometown of Woodhaven, Ohio for mom’s funeral. But what he doesn’t know is it might be their funeral, too.
It starts a bit too slow, but it picks up and ends as a really good read. Can’t wait to read more in this new series!
In the high desert on the outskirts of Reno, there is an old truck stop frequented by a mix of hard caliber truckers, day tourists, musicians and travelers. They have survived the chaotic first hours of contact with the undead and now must make their way across the country to a location they believe is safe. Zombies are only the beginning of their troubles as they try to cover the thousands of miles of open road with their hastily armored 18-wheelers.
Your classic, enjoyable, zombie novel that reminds us one important thing: don’t judge a book by its cover!
So these would be my top picks for now. I know the numbers were greater in the past, but the point is not to share just anything, but only the zombie novels that are actually worth reading! Let me know what your favorite is and if you know of another great zombie novel that I missed.
It’s probably about time to crawl out of your dark reading nook by now… why not crawl into an exciting zombie adventure with Escape Room Z! You can turn your living room into the apocalypse with this printable escape room kit. We gave it a go and absolutely loved it! Check out my playthrough of the game here.
And Make sure to check out all of my other awesome book recommendations here – there are some really great reads you’ll love here:
When selecting the books, I look at brand new titles launched for Kindle (they might also be available in paperback), as well as any of your suggestions.
So without further ado, let’s check out this brainalicious selection!
Zombie Fallout 10: Those Left Behind – Mark Tufo
The final book in the iconic Zombie Fallout series is out and you have to read it. Even more, if you somehow missed the series or ignored it, start from scratch and go through all the books in the series. It’s 10 of them, but you’ll love them as they have humor, horror, zombies and all the goodies in between. A beautiful conclusion to an epic series!
Breht is a lone hunter in an urban wilderness of zombies. The undead are his prey and he’s learned their ways – learned to survive amongst them. Dispatching them to their final rest, he sells their possessions at isolated settlements, then moves on. When he encounters a teenage girl on the run from a settlement, he is caught in a dilemma. Without him, she won’t last a day. But if he agrees to help her, he’ll not only break the solitude he craves. He’ll provoke deadly new enemies who’d like nothing better than to see him dead.
A fast paced, rather short novel coming from England and Rob Lopez in the underrated Undead UK series. Click here to get this book now.
Q Island – Russell James
An ancient virus has surfaced on Long Island, NY, turning its victims into black-veined, infectious, psychopathic killers. Chaos and madness rule. In desperation, the military quarantines the island, trapping Melanie Bailey and her autistic son Aiden. Somehow Aiden survives infection. He could be the key to a cure… if Melanie can get him to the mainland.
A fast paced read with enough plot twists that I am sure you will love. It doesn’t feature traditional zombies (as in walking-deads) but I think we can agree to use this term for the infected. In the end, it’s entertaining reading that matters and this is what this novel delivers.
I’ve been following the series so far and I am happy to see the sixth novel launched. It was a long wait, but it’s totally worth it as I consider this series to be pure gold for zombie fans. I’m sure you’ll agree with me!
Living on Mt. Rainier, Gus and Zoe are faced with a tough decision; stay and face starvation, or leave and face the dead that wait lower in elevation. The group will encounter new dangers and struggle to find themselves and each other again. The dead are more ruthless than ever, and the living more desperate. Natural disasters, a new threat from the dead, and tragic losses will either break Zoe and Gus apart or drive them closer together.
A brand new series is born with Morbid Hearts and this looks like one we’ll love reading from now on. Here’s how things stand in this interesting zombie novel:
It’s been eleven months since a deadly virus wiped out billions. For the few who remain, life as they knew it is over. Nations fell, governments were rendered obsolete, and resources became scarce. The human race had to start over, facing even greater odds… ZOMBIES!
Unfortunately, this book isn’t available on amazon, but if you can find it, totally pick it up for a good read!
The Frenzy Series Box Set – Casey L. Bond
After the world was ravaged by a viral apocalypse, Blackwater is one of the only colonies that remains. The survivors came together to create this safe haven. Nestled between a fierce river and a city’s flood wall, the well-being of its residents hangs on a long-established treaty with the night-walkers. Sounds simple enough, but lately, the people of Blackwater have been dying, and the humans believe the night-walkers are to blame.
This is a nice treat for fans of the The Frenzy series containing all 6 books released in the past. If you read them all, then there’s no need to get this box set since it brings nothing new. But if you haven’t read any of the books in this series, you’re getting a great deal here. It’s more vampires than zombies, but I won’t spoil the treat for you!
Rabies, from the Latin word rabere, “to rave” is the deadliest virus known in the world and the truest form of host manipulation. Once infected, the virus controls the hosts. They develop a fear of water and moving air and become sensitive to bright light. The virus lives in the salivary glands, and in order to spread to another host, it manipulates the host into becoming an aggressive creature. Left untreated, rabies is almost universally fatal… until it isn’t.
A really good debut novel that will keep you hooked from page one… if you can find it. Amazon has taken this book down, and it’s getting more difficult to track down…
The Violinist – Barry Slater
A concert violinist, a yoga instructor, a doctor, and a Hollywood pyrotechnician are holed up in a house built like a castle. The quartet are fighting for their lives in the prophesied zombie apocalypse. As the group fights for survival, they develop unorthodox ways of overcoming the relentless waves of living dead. Bringing their skills to the fight, the motley crew overcome their losses to become a tight knit family in the midst of death and destruction. In an all-out battle, they put their skills to the test and discover how it is possible for a corpse to rise from the dead.
A nice, quick read that adds some elements to the zombie genre that haven’t been used a lot, which is always good. So click here to give it a read.
Eight entries should be enough to keep you busy, especially since there’s a box set involved and other series’ that you might have not read so far. Enjoy!
Need more epic zombie adventure? Why not leave your book nook and play a zombie-themed escape room game? (Don’t worry, it’s printable, so you don’t have to leave the house). I tested out Escape Room Z for you, and it’s a bunch of fun! You can read my playthrough here.
And Make sure to check out all of my other awesome book recommendations here – there are some really great reads you’ll love here:
Just like always, I am here to share with you the “must read” novels for zombie fans all over the world. All the books that I’m recommending here can be read on Kindle, with some having Paperback editions available – and they’re all amazing!
This time, we do have some great titles, some extremely original zombie novels as well as highly anticipated new books that fans of zombie fiction will love (for example, Mark Tufo and Nicholas Sansbury Smith have brand new novels for us). Even more, for fans of Nicholas Sansbury Smith’s Extinction Cycle series, there were a lot of books written by other authors set in the well known universe, so we can consider it a huge treat. Only two of these books made it on our list because the competition was insane to pick our top 10, but you can definitely try a few more as there are some gems left out for you to discover.
Well, these being said, let’s not waste any time!
1. Extinction Aftermath – Nicholas Sansbury Smith
The sixth book – and the conclusion of – the Extinction Cycle is here and, as I told you already, it has spawned a bunch of great releases in the same world. In this final book of the series, Captain Reed Beckham and Dr. Kate Lovato are settling into a new life on Plum Island. Across the country, the adult Variants have all been wiped out and the juveniles are on the run. But survivors soon realize there are other monsters left at home. And they may be human.
This book is not available on Amazon any more, but if you can find a second-hand copy online or at a dusty bookshop, then I highly recommend giving this one a go.
2. Zombies vs Robots – Joe Cautilli & Marisha Cautilli
The title of the book is enough to make you want to read it and you’ll love it just as you love the similarly insanely paired movies by SyFy. Surprisingly, the book is not completely over the top and has some really believable and lovable characters and a really nice story. A pleasant surprise overall:
“A family and their friends frantically battle legions of zombies in a major American east coast city. This family has one advantage, and that is its ability to innovate new technologies, including robots, to increase their chances of survival. Through the use of the robots they are able to reclaim some of their lost world, but zombies are not their only worry. Other survivors are often just as dangerous. Finding sources of food and water prove to be equal and ongoing challenges for them. Follow their movement through joy and despair as they seek to live just another day.”
A brand new series in the making. Definitely a series you’ll want to read and I’m sure we’ll see the sequels listed in my future articles. Here’s how things go in Withered, a book where all sorts of wrongs happen:
“After an epidemic swept across America like a biblical plague, the government leapt into the fray with the release of a new vaccine—but what was meant to bring salvation to the survivors instead brought damnation. Mutations began within days of the drug’s release and the Withered Ones were born—those neither alive nor dead. They walked the streets, unblinking and unaware. And they were starting to evolve.”
4. Extinction Cycle: Extinction Trippin’ – Mark Tufo
Mark Tufo has a (really short) treat for us in the Extinction Cycle universe created by Nicholas Sansbury Smith. It’s Mark Tufo with his great writing style, a great story overall and the characters we love from his series. A win, but way too short!
“Man’s extinction is on the horizon and it’s up to four people torn from their own world by unseen forces to do their best to make sure that doesn’t happen. Follow along as Michael Talbot, part-time prepper, along with his best friend BT “Big Tiny” and the anti-hero Mrs. Deneaux are pulled into another realm, seemingly spun from the mind of the ever stoned John the Tripper in a desperate bid to right what has gone wrong.”
This book too has unfortunately fallen off the edge of the world it seems. If you can find it, read it and don’t let it go!
5. Rain Must Fall – Deb Rotuno
Jack Chambers was all the way across the country—separated from his family—when life as he knew it came to a screeching halt. A virus straight out of a horror movie has been unleashed, turning friends, neighbors, and family members into a walking nightmare. Jack must fight to make his way back home to his wife and son from Florida all the way to Oregon in a world that is determined to kill them all.
Sara Chambers considered herself to be a strong-minded military wife and mother. When her husband is called away for temporary duty, she never thought that her quiet, small-town life would be turned upside down. Following her husband’s frantic instructions, Sara must protect their son, Freddie, and the last remaining members of the small town of Sandy, Oregon, and get them somewhere safe, get them to the one place Jack told her to take them—their cabin at Clear Lake.
A great take on the zombie genre combined with some world class storytelling. The result is a surprising, gripping novel. Here’s how the story goes:
One bite used to be the difference between life and death… until biotech giant Hemisphere developed Necrophage — the drug that stopped the zombie plague in its undead tracks. But quick solutions often come with steep consequences. The Sherman Pope virus is no longer a death sentence to the infected, but only if they receive treatment in time. Clarifiers must decide who will be treated and who is turned out into the Yosemite Preserve to turn feral and be hunted for sport.
Amazon has taken this book down from their website, but if you can find it online, it comes highly recommended.
7. Blood Memory, Book 9 – Perrin Briar
The ninth and final book in the Post Apocalyptic Horror Series by Perrin Briar is here and you’ll love the conclusion! I know that 9 novels sounds like a lot for those who didn’t get a chance to read the series yet, but you’ll do yourself a favor if you start reading it. Here’s how things go in Blood Memory, Book 9:
“Tim is trapped in his own consciousness, his comatose body protected by Jordan. Fang is beating on the door to Tim’s inner Fortress, close to discovering where Jordan is hiding his body. Gaining entrance to either will seal Tim’s fate, as well as that of the world. But a secret is lurking about Fang that propels the survivors onto their final expedition: to defeat the all-powerful Wei. They must race against time before he becomes the Master Overlord and claims the world as his own.”
Unfortunately, this one too has become a victim of time, and ‘fallen off the shelf’. If you can find it, read it!
8. Humanity’s Hope: Camp H – Greg P Ferrell
Even though I’ve seem better writing in my zombie books and this novel could surely use some extra proofreading, there was something about it that I loved. It’s clearly just the first in a series, as you are still left with many unanswered questions and a ton of characters that deserve more page time and development, but at the same time, it’s pretty entertaining to read. You should skip it though if you can’t stand typos, minor grammar errors and other text-related problems. Here’s how things go:
“Mankind has always worried about the end of its days and that time has come in the form of a Zombie plague. A group of friends have banded together to create a safe haven they call Camp H, for hope. They are unaware of approaching danger on two horizons that will take them to their limits to survive. One among them may hold the key to humanity’s salvation.”
9. The Book Of Riley: The Final Path Home – Mark Tufo
Book five, and the last chapter in Mark Tufo’s brilliant series about the survival adventures of Riley, a fearless American bulldog. Yes, we have two Mark Tufo books this month and, even they’re both shorter reads, they’re awesome and we can consider them a great treat for all zombie fans out there! Here’s how to conclusion plays (no spoilers):
After being separated from her pack and left for dead, Riley, a fearless American bulldog, teams up with an unexpected ally on her quest to find the final path home. Together they face the harshness of the wilderness, the rage of the “deaders”, and the murderous intent of the “two-leggers”. Sometimes, man is far from a dog’s best friend.
We round things up with another novel set in Nicholas Sansbury Smith’s Extinction Cycle, a brilliant book about survival in the early days of the apocalypse. Here’s a bit more about what you’re going to get:
“John Eric Carver and Shrek are a retired Navy SEAL war dog team, now living in the mountains outside of San Diego. Both man and dog thought their life was now settled, finding peace on the forty acre ranch they had moved to. But life, and a mutated virus, changed all that. Now, they had to survive the infection that was consuming the world. Taking refuge in a near-by Boy Scout camp, he leads a group of teens and their parents as they are forced to deal with infected creatures that were rapidly consuming the world.”
Great choices all around, and I can only hope that we’ll keep on getting just as many quality releases to read!
If you’re looking for something a little different, I highly recommend giving Escape Room Z a try. It’s not a book, it’s a printable escape room game I played with my friends the other weekend, and we had a blast! You can check out my playthrough of the game here.
And Make sure to check out all of my other awesome book recommendations here – there are some really great reads you’ll love here:
Here, I’m continually sharing with you my personal list of the best zombie books, books that zombie fans will love to read and some that even those that are not big zombie fans will enjoy as well. With each month seeing hundreds of new zombie novels launched on Amazon, it’s very difficult to select just a bunch – the top ones – and I try to do that for you. Although I might miss some really good books, at least I save you from going through all the poorly written novels out there.
My friends and I keep saying that 90% of the new zombie books out there are not worth reading. So why spend your money? Check out our list and you’ll have 10 great novels to read this month. So let’s not waste any time and let’s check them out – read on!
The Fire Sisters – A.G. Henley
This is the third book in the Brilliant Darkness series and it’s a novel that doesn’t focus as much on the zombies as some would love, but it’s extremely well written, action packed and thought provoking, so I couldn’t just leave it out of the list.
The novel continues the story: Fenn and Peree join a small search party led by rival Kaiya, the one person who stands a chance of finding the children thanks to her mysterious past. As they travel away from the safe waters of Koolkuna and into the Scourge-infested wilds, Fenn endures Kai’s scorn, her subtle designs on Peree, and the squabbling of the group, but nothing in her life so far has prepared her for the fierce warrior women who will steal others’ children to preserve their own existence–the Fire Sisters.
While the Fire Sisters is a great read, it’s unfortunately gone out of print. If you can track down a copy, make sure to read it!
Twisted World: A Broken World Novel – Kate L. Mary
Twenty years ago a deadly virus swept the globe, ravaging the population. People died and came back as monsters, and through the tragedy that rocked the world survivors were born. Megan James is the product of survivors. Her parents crossed hundreds of miles of dangerous countryside to reach Atlanta, and the promise of a real future.
Now, two decades later, Meg is facing a crisis of her own. Her father has vanished and is presumed dead, and her mom is teetering on the edge of insanity, but all Meg really wants is to return to the safe world she always thought she was living in. Only Atlanta isn’t everything her parents thought it would be. The slums have grown and corruption is rampant, and despite the promise of democracy the new government has been slow to change. Through it all, the only consistency seems to be the zombies. Decayed and barely more than skeletons, there is no reason they should still be moving. But they are.
You might be familiar with the author from her previous series, Broken World, to which this new series is connected. However, you don’t have to read the previous series in order to take on this new one, so just check it out.
This book too, has dropped off the radar. Amazon isn’t stocking it, but I’m sure somebody has it!
Zombie Nation – Samantha Warren
This is not your typical zombie novel as it mixes zombies with a coming of age story. Kinley was only six when the apocalypse began. She spent the majority of her life in a walled, zombie proof town. But when a convoy comes to visit, she’ll learn that not everything inside the walls is safe. A book that starts slow, but picks up quickly and you’ll get to love it. Here’s an excerpt from the description:
I wasn’t there when the world ended. I didn’t see the body wash up on the shore. I didn’t know the first victim. But like everyone else, I suffered through the aftermath. The zombie apocalypse wasn’t an instantaneous destruction of the whole North American continent. It didn’t hit like a tornado and decimate the nation in one fell swoop. No, it was more like a massive wave on the ocean, rolling along, slow and steady, but ultimately unstoppable.
You don’t have to take this book too seriously, and you’ll be just fine. A crazy mixture of zombies and vampires, with a lovable heroine and over the top deliveries (like a zombie biting her crotch early on in the book), this is a novel that fans of the genre will really enjoy! Here’s a quick description of the Kate Brokenshire Zombie Slayer Adventure Book 1:
Slaying zombies for a living is way harder than it seems. You’d think Kate’s career counselor would’ve suggested something a little better like hairdressing or receptionist. But no… She actually loves her job as a slayer, but the money could be better. Maybe that’s why she lets the sheriff talk her into going after a vamp that crossed over from the Zombie Lands to terrorize her quaint hometown of Tennyson, Illinois. Big mistake!
Dan has rescued Julie and has been reunited with his dad, but in the end he lost so much more. After waking in a military hospital he learns of his injuries and the loss of his little Angel. His body and faith will be tested. Will he ever be free of the scourge and have a normal life again? Will he be able to rally his troops and find a possible cure? With his best friend Brian by his side and his SWAT family standing squarely behind him he will be become the leader that he never knew he could become.
This is the third book in the series, providing nail biting action just like the previous ones. Will Dan survive? There’s only one way to find out:
One hot August morning in 1892, Lizzie Borden picked up an axe and murdered her father and stepmother. Newspapers claim she did it for the oldest of reasons: family conflicts, jealousy and greed. But what if her parents were already dead? What if Lizzie slaughtered them because they’d become zombies?
Even though I prefer more modern settings for the zombie apocalypse, this remains a really enjoyable read and a nice change in the end if all you’ve been reading lately are zombie novels set in the present time.
Unfortunately, Amazon doesn’t stock this one, so you’ll have to find it elsewhere.
Knights of the Dead – I.J. Smith
Well, if you start with zombies in the history books in the novel above, why not continue it with some action set in medieval times?
Long ago there was a period of time known as the Dark Ages. Finally the truth of those years are revealed. Will the Zombies rule or will The Knights win the war?
Although this book is pretty slow and it has its problems – at least in my opinion – it was still one of the better reads of the month and hopefully the next ones in the series will get better and better! So click here to read Knights of the Dead!
Season Of Decay – Michael W. Garza
Our world decayed and a new world arose from the ashes of the old in this second book in the Decaying World Saga.
The Canaan tribe formed from the ruins of their oppressors, struggling to build a new world for themselves, challenged by the rise of a threat within and a familiar foe at their doorstep.
Mia’s position among the tribe has put her at odds with Rowan and their former way of life. Rowan is determined to strike out on his own, but his loyalty to Mia has become a constant battle. The lives of all the members of the Canaan tribe hang in the balance as the council struggles with a path forward. A horde of the dead push toward Canaan driven by the infected, and Mia must choose between the people she loves and the tribe she has sworn to protect.
I know you’re getting sick of me recommending ‘dead books’…. but a good book is a good book, whether Amazon stocks it or not!
A Place Outside The Wild – Daniel Humphreys
Eight years after Z-Day, the surviving remnants of mankind face the unknown. The fences and walls kept the ravenous undead at bay until they wasted away. A once overwhelming foe has turned feeble and weak, and a world gone wild seems ripe for reclamation.
An interesting approach to the genre, a solid story and intense action – all these are the ingredients you will find in this book and these will be some of the reasons that will keep you reading until the end. And then – you won’t be disappointed! Click here to download this book.
The List – Michael John Grist
At five years old Anna survived the first zombie apocalypse, but lost her father. At fifteen she survived the second, but lost even more. She won’t allow a third. She has a list of the 11 remaining bunkers. She has the skills to take them down. But the bunkers have a secret, and won’t go down without terrible, world-shaking fight. Who will survive?
The fifth book in the Zombie Ocean series, The List delivers as expected. We have great action scenes, a lot of gore and plot twists to keep us entertained. All in all, a great book!
So this would be my list of recommended titles – we have a nice mixture of standalone releases and books that are part of a series. Until this month, I tried to only recommend brand new books, but I decided that it’s not a good choice since there are indeed some amazing series out there getting regular releases as well.
If you’re ready to take a break from reading, then I’d recommend you try out a printable escape room game, specifically, Escape Room Z. I played this for a weekend game night and loved it! You can read my playthrough of the game here.
And Make sure to check out all of my other awesome book recommendations here – there are some really great reads you’ll love here:
I’m back again! This time I also focused on standalone novels or, at most, brand new series, but I think it’s unjust to ignore new high quality releases just because they’re part of a series, so I’ll start sharing those with you in future posts. (oh yes, there’s more coming!)
So without further ado, here are seven more thrilling zombie tales for you to devour:
ARES Virus: Arctic Storm by John O’Brien
What would happen if a viral agent was released on American soil? How would local agencies react? How would the military respond? What if it was one of their own? Would they own it or attempt to cover it up? If a major operation was jeopardized because of the release, would that alter any of the decisions? Although it doesn’t feature traditional, brain eating walking deads, this goes as a zombie book in my notepad and I highly recommend it to you to. Click here to download and read it.
Amanda Carter in the L.A.Z., life after zombies by Jo Lee Auburne
A debuting author, but a very interesting read. In the LBZ, life before zombies, Amanda Carter had come to the city of Blythe, California, to pursue her passion of photography. When the media had first begun announcing reports of an infection that was turning people into zombies, Amanda was incredulous that such a thing was possible. The infection quickly spread. Cities were barricaded in an attempt to isolate the infection. But the measures put into place to protect the people were too late in coming. Societies, worldwide, collapsed and rapidly slid into chaos. Amanda Carter becomes one of the few survivors of this apocalyptic event. She must learn how to keep herself, and the others that she has teamed up with, safe. Click here to check it out.
Zombie Bite – Jade McCulloch
A slightly different take on the zombie genre. Check out the plot description below to see for yourself:
Three years ago the world I knew died along with everyone I cared about, everyone but Eli. Maybe I’m naïve, but I didn’t think I would ever lose Eli. I’ve always thought of him as a tough guy who could fend for himself, but that all changed the day I brought back infected survivors. When one of them became a “zombie”, I realized that I couldn’t just sit back and watch Eli die. I convince Eli to join me on the search for a dental studio who claims to have a cure. Does the cure exist or will we die chasing it?
Sounds really interesting, right? Well, unfortunately, you can’t get it on Amazon, so you’ll have to get creative to see how this one ends!
The Survivors of Bastion by Will Hawthorne
This is my type of post-apocalyptic zombie book! After a lethal virus wipes out more than 99.8% of the world’s population, the remaining survivors who are immune from the disease set up small communities in order to survive and thrive. It’s a fast paced, interesting read which zombie fiction lovers will totally dig… if they can find it… because it’s also not available on Amazon.
No Zombies Please We Are British by Alex Laybourne
I really like reading zombie novels that are not always set in the US. It requires for a different approach – especially since firearms are not readily available everywhere, and this novel from Alex Laybourne, known for Diaries of the Damned by zombie fans, delivers:
Trapped in his apartment building, Jack knows that riding out the zombie apocalypse inside is not an option. Especially when his girlfriend is trapped in the city. Jack knows it is a fool’s errand, but he has to try. In a terrifying journey across London, Jack finds that the entire city has fallen. The dead are waiting around every corner, but even in the first days of the apocalypse, it is not only the dead that pose a threat.
A good read for the weekend, so click here to check it out.
The Week of the Dead by Viktor Longfellow
Hordes of humans begin emerging from rivers and oceans all over the world. They’re strange. They’re feral. They’re hungry. After Devin’s boss gets infected by one of the zombies, Devin realizes he’s probably out of a job. He and his coworker Erica go on the run, staying one step ahead of the masses of zombies hungering for human flesh. Meanwhile, Philadelphia native Mr. Harrison knows how horrible the day will be—just like every other day in his empty life. But, he thinks as he prepares to overdose on prescription medication, it will all be over soon. He’s wrong. Who knew a zombie apocalypse would give him something to live for?
A surprisingly good debut zombie novel, one written with wit and passion: a fun, extensive read. You’ll love it, so give it a try by clicking here.
Unrest by Nathaniel Reed
A typical day at school becomes a fight for survival when a group of college students find themselves under attack by something that is turning fellow students into zombies. But getting out of school is just the beginning. The road to safety is a long and painful one that could cost them and their loved ones dearly. Fast paced and pretty interesting, you can check out this novel here.
Did we miss any good zombie novels? Let us know by commenting below!
Need a break from reading? Try a printable zombie escape room game – Escape Room Z! I gave it a shot, and I really recommend it. You can read my playthrough of the game here.
And Make sure to check out all of my other awesome book recommendations here – there are some really great reads you’ll love here:
I think that you are, just like me, a huge fan of zombie fiction. One great thing about this addiction is that we have enough authors who are constantly producing zombie novels to satisfy our needs for zombies. Even better is the fact that zombie fiction is getting better and better each year, with extremely talented writers debuting or switching to this genre.
I know that finding good zombie novels to read – especially new ones from relatively unknown authors (but also well established ones) – is difficult and, if you are like me, you have probably spent more than once some money on crappy books. Well, that should no longer be the case as I am here to share with you the best of the best and we’re starting our recommendations with eight great books for zombie fans. So let’s not waste any time!
Ghost Run – J.L. Bourne
The most popular entry on our list for sure, this is the fourth book of a well known and beloved series (the Day by Day Armageddon series). Day by Day Armageddon: Ghost Run continues the story of the previous books in the series, meaning that if you haven’t read the previous ones, you might have some trouble with some of the elements – but trust me, it’s worth catching up with the story! Here’s what happens in Ghost Run:
In a desperate bid to survive as hordes of bloodthirsty undead now dominate the ravaged U.S. population, a Navy commander discovers an incredible secret about the pandemic in this fourth novel in the acclaimed Day by Day Armageddon series.
Task Force Phoenix may be humanity’s final hope, and the narrator’s agonizing decisions could mean living one more day—or surrendering to the eternal hell that exists between life and death.
Click here to purchase Ghost Run by J.L. Bourne on Amazon (Kindle or Paperback)
Beyond the Barriers: Ghouls – Timothy W. Long
You probably know Timothy W. Long’s work already, as we produced some great zombie books like the Z-Risen series (bonus: a free copy of Z-Risen: Outbreak is included in this book, so you’re shooting two rabbits with a single, inexpensive purchase). Set in the same world, Beyond the Barriers: Ghouls tells a great story and keeps you entertained from the first page to the last. Action-packed, smartly written and following a line I personally love in zombie novels, this book won’t disappoint! Here’s a synopsis:
Erik Tragger had managed to survive a world gone mad. With a truck full of refugees, escapees from the ghoul camp he helped burn to the ground, he searches for his scattered friends. When word reaches him of Katherine’s last known location, he sets off in pursuit.
Surviving will not be easy. The cities have been overrun by the dead and there are few people he can trust. Upon stumbling on a horrifying location that may lead him to Katherine, he becomes trapped, with little hope of escape. Lucky for Erik there are two men who may be able to help. Jackson Creed, and Joel Kelly.
Click here to purchase Beyond the Barriers: Ghouls by Timothy W. Long on Amazon
Dawn of the Apocalypse – TW Gallier
Gallier is a relatively new author of zombie fiction, but he already managed to create a great post-apocalyptic universe in his Total Apoc series. This book takes place in the same universe, and is an action-packed adventure through the undead hordes. Fast paced, well written and totally enjoyable! Here’s the short story:
Roger Gilley is an ex-Airborne soldier on a business trip to Washington, DC when a combination terrorist/rogue nation attack is launched against the US. America is hit with a double whammy of nukes and bio-agents. The nation’s anti-missile defense shield stops most of the ICBMs, but no system is perfect.
The bio-agent proves insidious and spreads fast. By morning hordes of enraged “infected” swarm across the land. Roger is desperate to get home to his wife, Jenny, and their pre-teen children. Finding himself more than halfway across the country, Roger begins his long, arduous journey home to his family. Two other ex-soldiers join him to escape the suddenly tyrannical Feds. Roger, Mike, and Charlie have no idea the hell America has become until they face the roaming savages and insatiable zombies wandering the land.
Click here to purchase Dawn of the Apocalypse by TW Gallier on Amazon
Black Virus – Bobby Adair
Bobby Adair is best known for his Slow Burn series (which is a truly epic experience!), so his fans should know what to expect from Black Virus. This is the first book of a new series that shows a lot of promise and it deals with one of the most enjoyable moments for zombie fiction readers: the beginning of the z-apocalypse.
Alienated in a world where he doesn’t fit in, Christian Black survives because he’s different. Then the virus came, and made the world turn different, too.
Now people are dying by the million. Food supplies are short. Riots are blazing through the streets, and Christian’s only goal is to keep his family alive. But safety lies far from the city, and just getting out will be tougher than anyone knows.
Click here to purchase Black Virus by Bobby Adair on Amazon
Counter-Zombie Warfare – Jason A Beauchemin
If you like the military aspects of a potential zombie apocalypse, Beauchemin’s debut novel’s got you covered and comes with a treat: Counter-Zombie Warfare brings an interesting story to the genre, a military presence that tries to cover up the whole thing. Intense, gritty and clearly written by somebody with solid military backgrounds, this is a great debut novel from an author we’ll hopefully hear more about! Here’s the book’s plot:
Life isn’t easy for counter-zombie troops. The undead take some getting used to. Regardless of who zombies were before… men, women, children… they’re all disease-spreading cannibal corpses now. The only cure is two bullets to the brain. Zombie outbreaks occur all the time all over the world. Deployments are nonstop. Downtime is almost a fairy tale. They can only truly relate to each other and their fellow troops disappear way too often. Some get transferred or discharged. Some get killed in action. Some die by their own hand. But the zombie apocalypse is real. Click here to purchase Counter-Zombie Warfare by Jason A Beauchemin on Amazon
The Harbinger – Keegan Kennedy
An interesting read that starts a bit slow but builds up quickly into an epic read, it tells the “virus” story really nicely and with some fresh ideas in the genre. Here’s how things stand in the book:
Primarily set in the American city of Memphis, four loosely-connected strangers, caught up in their lives, find their worlds annihilated by the swiftly-moving plague. Alex Connelly is a wealthy, young executive, living an idyllic life with his pregnant wife, Madison. Kirk Foster is a self-absorbed aging gay man, desperate to hang onto his youth and sex appeal. Meredith Brinkley’s on-going war with breast cancer takes a turn for the worse, and she faces an impending double mastectomy. Logan King is a closeted baseball jock, playing for a minor league team while coming to terms with his true identity. And only together will they survive…
Click here to purchase The Harbinger by Keegan Kennedy on Amazon
The Enduring: Stories of Surviving the Apocalypse – Nicholas Ryan
A bit of World War Z in terms of approach, this one’s another great read that tells the stories of various people after the zombie apocalypse. A must read! Here’s the book’s synopsis:
America’s rise from the horror of the Apocalypse is the stories of her survivors; the men and women who refused to submit, the stoic determination of a proud resilient people who stood fast and fought back in isolated pockets and in small bands until the undead were purged from the world. These are the stories of America’s real heroes who won back the land from the infected, and never gave up hope.
Click here to purchase The Enduring: Stories of Surviving the Apocalypse by Nicholas Ryan on Amazon.
Quarantined: Graphic Novel – Michael Moreci & Monty Borror
Although I am, strangely, not a huge fan of comics and graphic novels, I think that some of our readers are. If that’s your case or you simply want to try out a new take on the genre, read Quarantined: a graphic novel written by Michael Moreci and illustrated by Monty Borror, telling a nice story. Make sure that you look inside the book before purchasing to make sure that the illustrations fit your style. And now here’s the plot:
In a small town in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, a virus turns nearly every resident into a vicious killing machine. A group of uninfected is trapped within the town, abandoned with dwindling resources. These survivors must fight against the infected, as well as the paranoia growing between them. Sparked by a mysterious stranger, the survivors dig into the town’s secrets as they hatch their escape—yet none of them are prepared for what they discover.
Just be warned, this one isn’t on Amazon, so it may take a bit of digging to find it.
Of course, these are just my suggestions. I hope you will enjoy them all and don’t forget to share with us any title that you love!
Don’t read yourself into exhaustion though, maybe take a break to have a little adventure with other people. I recommend trying Escape Room Z – it’s a printable zombie escape room game that is surprisingly fun. You can read my playthrough of the game here.
Make sure to check out all of my other awesome book recommendations here – there are some really great reads you’ll love here:
