Welcome to the MOSL Book Challenge


Showing posts with label zombies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label zombies. Show all posts

Monday, January 30, 2023

The Bone House by Emily Lloyd

 Pages: 352

"Seventeen-year-old Aderyn ("Ryn") only cares about two things: her family, and her family's graveyard. And right now, both are in dire straits. Since the death of their parents, Ryn and her siblings have been scraping together a meager existence as gravediggers in the remote village of Colbren, which sits at the foot of a harsh and deadly mountain range that was once home to the fae. The problem with being a gravedigger in Colbren, though, is that the dead don't always stay dead.

The risen corpses are known as "bone houses," and legend says that they're the result of a decades-old curse. When Ellis, an apprentice mapmaker with a mysterious past, arrives in town, the bone houses attack with new ferocity. What is it that draws them near? And more importantly, how can they be stopped for good?"

I wish this author has more standalone fantasy novels. I really enjoyed the Drowned Woods with is quirky magic (and the corgi!!) and strong characters. This one was a twist of more welsh folktales with more of a horror twist and another fun sidekick/pet in the goat.

Wednesday, January 27, 2021

Wednesday, January 13, 2021

Dread Nation by Justina Ireland

I love that the chapter titles are like chapter titles of books that would have been published during the Civil War.
Aaaand I'm going to strangle all of these racists. 
Historical fiction + fighting zombies. Sign me up.
......I am concerned for a very specific character.
480 Pages

Friday, October 30, 2020

Red Harvest by Joe Schreiber

 

Star Wars and... zombies?! 

Yep. It's that kind of book. But, the zombie theme surprisingly fits within the galaxy pretty well. I personally love any kind of ancient Sith biogenetic experiment lore anyway, so I enjoyed this one a lot! We also get to see the Jedi bio-experiments and communing with plants through the Force, which we don't really get to see in later periods. Towards the end of the Republic, the Jedi are mostly martial arts and peacekeeper focused, with a diminished Agricultural Corps. (Yes, I'm a huge Star Wars nerd, I know...) A Sith Lord trying to achieve mortality would reasonably end up unleashing a zombie plague which consumes every ounce of life on the planet. I mean really, what else would happen?

256 pages

Monday, September 14, 2020

The Forest of Hands and Teeth (The Forest of Hands and Teeth #1)


 The Forest of Hands and Teeth (The Forest of Hands and Teeth #1) by Carrie Ryan

Pages: 310

Rating: 5 out of 5

In Mary's world consists of her small village surrounded by fences and guards. They protect everyone from The Unconsecrated. No one ever leaves the village. But Mary dreams of the far off land her mother tells her about in stories she learned from her mother. Of land bordered by a vast expanse of water as far as the eye can see and were there are no fences. But Mary has learned you must always obey their religious leaders, The Sisterhood and the Guardians who protect the walls. Mary is approaching the age of adulthood and either marriage or a lifetime of serving in the Sisterhood. When the fence is breached Mary must make some fast, hard decisions. Will she stay with the life she has known, with her family, follow the one she loves or risk it all to find a place that may not even exist.

Monday, August 31, 2020

History by C.L. Lynch

When you find a book on ebook, and you don't realize until you're like 1/3 of the way through that the book is twice as long as the first one, but you're not upset.
So I love that you can see the plot line of New Moon, but like....better...
HOWIE HOWIE HOWIE HOWIE HOWIE HOWIE. I love him. I love him so much. He is too pure. Too good for this world.
Me @ Stella:
Growth You Know What That Is GIF - Growth YouKnowWhatThatIs GIFs
also I'm really tempted to go off about Dean and literally all of the things that are wrong...."Babe".....like....come on....Also....Love is willing the good of the other over yourself, sooooo no..no Dean. Like I want to pull out my Catechism and Theology of the Body and throw them at his head and explain how he is not loving correctly... and yeah I mean THAT kind of loving. Because he's being super selfish and isn't thinking about her.
I love me a man who knows how to love his woman. Howie drinks respect women juice and I am here for it.

WHY ISN'T BIOLOGY OUT YET. WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY
694 Pages

Wednesday, June 5, 2019

Dread Nation by Justina Ireland

Dread Nation (Dread Nation, #1)Dread Nation by Justina Ireland
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have to confess that I'm a bigger fan of the deadly zombies than the entitled white rich folk of this story. One thing this book does do is make a lot of good points about social issues and social inequity but without ever pulling you away from the actual story. It's both a reminder of what progress has been made in regards to racial issues in America, as well as a slap in the face to remind us that we are nowhere near where we should be, considering it's 2019.

Also, Jane is one of the most badass YA characters I have ever met, and she manages to remain confident and badass at all times, despite the endless racial slurs and overall degradation that comes with her position (effectively an enslaved zombie slayer for the privileged elite).

This is a dystopia that occurs in the midst of the Civil War, when the zombies rise up, but it's more of a Historical Horror Dystopian blend, with both faux history (on the zombies rise up side) and real history (on the serious racial inequity and oppression side).

This would be great paired up with some of these other YA books for a specialized lit class to discuss race issues in America, and even though I've already read them all, I would definitely want to take that class:
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas Dear Martin by Nic Stone The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon American Street by Ibi Zoboi With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie The Love & Lies of Rukhsana Ali by Sabina Khan I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sánchez A Very Large Expanse of Sea by Tahereh Mafi American Panda by Gloria Chao How Dare the Sun Rise Memoirs of a War Child by Sandra Uwiringiyimana Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds

I'm sure there are other great options, but I've only listed books that I've read and that I think would add something interesting to group discussions.

Pages: 455

Friday, December 21, 2018

Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion

Warm Bodies (Warm Bodies, #1)Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Well, this is fun. It’s a zombie story from the zombie perspective, but it’s more captivating than other story options with this concept, such as The Girl With All The Gifts. It has a lot more range and personality, which held my interest better.

Just be forewarned, for the hard-core zombie and/or horror fans that this book is not exactly that. It is more of an existential romance from a skewed zombie perspective, with brief moments of horror.

Book 417 read in 2018

Pages: 256

Thursday, March 29, 2018

Pet Sematary by Stephen King

Sometimes dead is better....When the Creeds move into a beautiful old house in rural Maine, it all seems too good to be true: physician father, beautiful wife, charming little daughter, adorable infant son -- and now an idyllic home. As a family, they've got it all...right down to the friendly cat. But the nearby woods hide a blood-chilling truth -- more terrifying than death itself...and hideously more powerful.

-One of the best King books I've read so far! It is absolutely terrifying and the imagery has stuck with me. If you like scary things, half-dead cats, and supernatural burial grounds this book is for you!

Pages: 374

5 out of 5 stars

Monday, December 11, 2017

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, #1)Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Well, this was amusing, and I don't even need to explain why, since I can just point to the title.

My only request would be for even more zombies.

Now, let's all take a moment to admire that fabulous cover before I go watch the movie.

Pages: 320

Saturday, December 2, 2017

The Walking Dead, Book Thirteen by Robert Kirkman

The Walking Dead, Book Thirteen (The Walking Dead #145-156)The Walking Dead, Book Thirteen by Robert Kirkman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

ACK! IT ENDED AT THE MOST DRAMATIC MOMENT, AND I DON'T HAVE THE NEXT BOOK.

HOW COULD YOU DO THAT TO ME?

And Neegan. Oh, Neegan. How do I love thee? So much that it's of concern, considering you are so terrible, and I also absolutely hate you. Someone may need to have me checked, in case I'm unstable and need an intervention, as clearly this is not acceptable grown up behavior.

PAGES: 298

Monday, October 30, 2017

The Walking Dead: Books 10-12 By Robert Kirkman

The Walking Dead, Book Ten (The Walking Dead #109-120)The Walking Dead, Book Ten by Robert Kirkman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really, really hate Negan, but I'm also still fascinated by him. I don't want to look away. He's the Dolores Umbridge of the Walking Dead.

Pages: 296



The Walking Dead, Book Eleven (The Walking Dead #121-132)The Walking Dead, Book Eleven by Robert Kirkman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It is so strange to be reading at a point that is past the show. I feel like I'm cheating on the show, which makes no sense, as really the opposite occurred.

Anyway, this one is also full of unexpected resolutions and moments of hopefulness.

Pages: 296


The Walking Dead, Book Twelve (The Walking Dead #133-144)The Walking Dead, Book Twelve by Robert Kirkman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This has a shocking a brutal ending, which is both upsetting and also exciting. I love how this series continues to surprise me, and I'm stressed out about what is going to happen next. The anticipation of doom seems to play a huge role in the progression of this series.

Also, Carl is the best. I'd read a whole book on just him.

Pages: 296

Wednesday, October 18, 2017

The Walking Dead Series by Robert Kirkman

The Walking Dead, Book Five (The Walking Dead #49-60)The Walking Dead, Book Five by Robert Kirkman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love these. I should have read them sooner. Also, I may have to go back and rewatch the series after this, so I can better compare them. I'm noticing more and more differences, and I'm starting to wonder if I just don't remember the series that well after all this time. But I suspect that there are just some major differences, and I'm interested to see how it all plays out.

Pages: 304


The Walking Dead, Book Six (The Walking Dead #61-72)The Walking Dead, Book Six by Robert Kirkman

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


It's full of hopelessness, which is it's own strange sort of perfection.

Pages: 304


The Walking Dead, Book Seven (The Walking Dead #73-84)The Walking Dead, Book Seven by Robert Kirkman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I often know what is going to happen next, since I've seen though show (and even though some things varying), but this still has my full attention. I'm stressed out and on the edge of my seat, wanting to shout at the characters through every zombie attack and relationship decision, as if they need my help.

Pages: 304


The Walking Dead, Book Eight (The Walking Dead #85-96)The Walking Dead, Book Eight by Robert Kirkman

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Violence, mixed feelings, death, despair, kissing, zombies, mistakes, repeat.

Pages: 336



The Walking Dead, Book Nine (The Walking Dead #97-108)The Walking Dead, Book Nine by Robert Kirkman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Absolutely brutal. Also, there is something really wrong with me. I mean seriously. I think someone should stage an intervention. Negan is the worst sort of evil bastard, yet I am absolutely fascinated by him. I think I'm having some sort of "likes the bad boy" midlife crisis over here.

Pages: 336

Monday, October 9, 2017

The Walking Dead

The Walking Dead, Book One (The Walking Dead #1-12)The Walking Dead, Book One by Robert Kirkman

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow. I love this. Why didn't I read these sooner? I'm not sure how I managed to watch the show and never read these.

Pages: 304



The Walking Dead, Book Two (The Walking Dead #13-24)The Walking Dead, Book Two by Robert Kirkman

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I'm enjoying the story and the artwork.

Pages: 304



The Walking Dead, Book Three (The Walking Dead #25-36)The Walking Dead, Book Three by Robert Kirkman

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I think I'm obsessed. Also, my family seriously needs to have a zombie apocalypse plan. . . LOL.

Pages: 304



The Walking Dead, Book Four (The Walking Dead #37-48)The Walking Dead, Book Four by Robert Kirkman

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

These stories are dark, graphic, and intense. I love that.

Pages: 304



Tuesday, October 18, 2016

The Girl with All the Gifts by M.R. Carey

The Girl with All the GiftsThe Girl with All the Gifts by M.R. Carey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This started out interesting and lost steam. The plot was fine, but my interest lagged after the first 1/3. I think the concept initially was charming (zombie MC doesn't realize she's part zombie--thinks she's a normal girl).

However, after that, there was never enough character development and growth to keep me interested in all the running around that occurred in the plot. The themes became repetitive for me. I don't dislike it, by any means, but I just lost the initial level of excitement I had when I started the book.

The funny thing is that the plot might be a bit slow in the start, and it's right at the point where things kick up a notch that I started returning to the book with more and more reluctance. Therefore, it receives a very conflicted 3.5 stars (rounded up to 4, for consistency). It's worth a look, just for the interesting perspective, but I don't absolutely love it.

Pages: 448

Saturday, December 26, 2015

Slasher Girls & Monster Boys: Edited by April Genevieve Tucholke

Slasher Girls & Monster BoysSlasher Girls & Monster Boys
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a strange, creepy, and disturbing collection of short stories by a group of excellent YA authors: Stefan Bachmann, Leigh Bardugo, Kendare Blake, A. G. Howard, Jay Kristoff, Marie Lu, Jonathan Maberry, Danielle Paige, Carrie Ryan, Megan Shepherd, Nova Ren Suma, McCormick Templeman, April Genevieve Tucholke, Cat Winters.

There’s something here that will interest or traumatize almost anyone who likes a good horror story. Some of these stories, I really loved. Others, kept me up at night, and some were merely likable or bizarre. However, the collection as a whole is enjoyable and a worthwhile read.

All of the selections were inspired by other works, which are listed after each short story. As I read, I started to guess what the inspirations for each short story were. I was wrong more often than I was right, but it was still fun to try to match these short stories up with possible inspirations.

Pages: 392

Saturday, February 21, 2015

Queen of Zombie Hearts by Gena Showalter

A lot of crazy things have happened to Alice since her parents and sister passed away. She has been with on again off again bad-boy Cole and has the ability to kill zombie spirits. Things get crazier when Alice finds out her name is actually Samantha and the mom she thought was her mom was not her real mother. Alice and Cole's group gets together with another pack of slayers (people who can kill zombie spirits) in order to defeat Anima, an institution that has been trying to control zombie spirits. Though this was originally supposed to be the final book in the series, fans begged for more and the author has obliged. The fourth book is to come at the end of September 2015.


I read this book as an audio book.
Narrator: Martha Harmon Pardee
Time: 12 hours, 5 minutes
ISBN: 9780373211319
Pages (Per ISBN connected with the book used to create audio book): 464

The White Rabbit Chronicles:
#1-Alice in Zombieland
#2-Through the Zombie Glass
#3-Queen of Zombie Hearts
#4-A Mad Zombie Party (Coming September 2015)

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Star Wars: Red Harvest

by Joe Schreiber

Star Wars.
Sith.
Zombies. - Wha?

In this case, the agent that creates the zombies is a tainted power that mimics the Force and infects all who try to tap in to that power unawares. That agent is called the Disease and those infected are not called zombies in the book, but to me, this was a zombie book with a Star Wars wrapper. It just didn't work that well for me. Too many Sith, too many zombies, too many graphic depictions of gore, and the narrator really overdid his part.

That said, we do get to meet a Jedi botanist, as well as a Sith librarian who goes mad in the end and destroys his magnificent collection of ancient manuscripts (which made me shudder even more than the gore).


audio: 8 hours
text: 256 pages