This was a great read which I recommend to anyone into character-driven fiction.
Yes, it is a post-apocalyptic zombie novel with an ample amount of blood and guts; but the story centers on the people, and keeps you wanting to know about their fate. It flows well, with characters from all walks of life fighting off zombies and trying to survive. It reads somewhat like ‘Swan Song’ and ‘The Stand’, because there is a ‘good’ side and an ‘evil’ side, but there is one character that stands out from the rest. Without giving it away too much, he’s not human, and not a zombie, and he fights off the walking dead in a way I’ve never read before, and I’ve read a lot of zombie stories. The build-up was excellent. The ending left me hanging because it doesn’t really end. I’m waiting for the next one, and it better be soon.
I picked up this novel by accident really, and met the author, Nick Kisella. I was at the horror convention ‘Chiller Theatre’ in NJ, hoping for a photo with Joan Collins which I eventually got. Afterward I was walking the isles, checking things out when I saw books. I was looking them over and I didn’t realize he was standing there handing out chocolate demon heads (really, and yes, I got one too) In my eyes he doesn’t look anything at all like an author, if you saw him you’d understand, but he’s got several novels out. He seemed like a really nice guy and gave me a great deal on 2 of his books, ‘The Beasts and the Walking Dead’ and ‘Morningstars’. I’m reading ‘Morningstars’ now, and so far, even though I don’t read much about demons and hell, I’m really enjoying it.
https://www.amazon.com/Beasts-Walking-Dead-Nick-Kisella/dp/098588293X
Review by Frank R.
