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The Best in Horror - You have everything to fear!
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Jonathan J. Drake strikes again with Zombie Mage, a tale of the undead gone wrong. Perspectives change and worlds get turned upside down in this humoristic horror novel, where Drake captures a perfect balance between plot and character development. At the same time, he maintains a good pace and ultimately delivers a ride with some very exciting twists. If you like zombies in a vulnerable position, this is the book for you.
Olligh is the poor soul that wakes up in a pit full of rotting corpses, only to discover his mouth has been sewn shut, and he has no memory of what happened. Nothing makes sense, and it does not get any easier when two guys try to put him out of his supposed misery. Little does Olligh know, he is a zombie with thoughts and feelings.
After mysteriously being transported from the pit into a room full of coffins and a half rotting old lady, begging him to take her with him if he escapes, Olligh makes his way into town, still unaware of his new undead status and trying to figure out what is going on. It is not until he comes across a blind barber, where he finally cuts the stitches from his mouth, and sees what he has become. Naturally, his new reflection opens up a whole lot of questions.
This is the second book I have reviewed by Drake, and I have to say, it is brilliant. While I enjoyed Barrow of the Damned, Zombie Mage is the book that really showcases what he can do. The pacing is a little slower and a bit more relaxed, the characters are more developed and provide more dimension, and the theme is not as targeted and complex. Even the humor, which was great with Barrow of the Damned, was taken up a notch with Zombie Mage.
Given the humoristic nature of the book, it is difficult to take the horrific side seriously. I am not saying that Drake does not write intriguing gore scenes, but his talent for making the reader smile tends to overshadow everything else. From start to finish, the book is fundamentally hilarious. But instead of waiting for laughing-out-loud-moments, you will be chuckling every few minutes or so. Although, there are some laugh-out-loud moments too.
In my personal opinion, this is the type of story I can see on the big screen, directed by somebody like Tim Burton. The strange and dark atmosphere is present from the first page, and the clichés perfectly twist into very unpredictable moments. And after reading the last page, I could not believe how captivating this eerie and humorous book turned out to be.
Ultimately, Drake has a great sense of humor, which is accompanied by a very active imagination. This combination has led to a story I will probably read two or three more times. If this book keeps you up at night, it will not be because you are scared. It will be because you are very entertained.
Reviewed by Damnetha Jules
Damnetha is a staff writer, horror book and movie critic.
Also by xyxyxy:
The Longest Midnight is the debut war/horror novel of J.J. Fowler, and whatever you’re expecting from the title, don’t trust any preconceived notions just yet. From the cover on it presents a very realistic military atmosphere, but this story is something completely different. With one of the most original zombie plots I’ve read in a long time, Fowler brings the reader into a very bleak future.
The story takes place in the future, where the zombie apocalypse is part of everyday life. With only a fraction of the world population still managing to stay alive, they somehow try to recover from the devastation. Among the survivors is Joshua Drake, a veteran with very little lust for life. For him staying alive has become a job, because there’s not much else to look forward to. And if the zombies don’t get them, cancer just might.
However, somebody started taking control of the zombies. Now they walk around with weapons, becoming more dangerous because they don’t need to energize, or fear death for that matter. It’s up to Drake and his platoon to neutralize this superior threat from behind enemy lines. What seems like a suicide mission gains hope when another dangerous enemy joins the fight against the zombies.
First off, I think the setting of the story is particularly interesting, mainly because it goes beyond the typical outbreak and the mass hysteria. Of course, it’s not the first time this idea has been used, but Fowler brings a few other elements to the plot as well. For example, the enemy Drake is forced to trust. Unfortunately, it would be a spoiler to reveal them, but I can say that you won’t see it coming.
Another element he brings to the table is his rather detailed execution. He doesn’t miss the softer points of guts flying everywhere and blood seeping into the sand. In terms of writing style, he shows a clear direction of where he wants to take the reader and he doesn’t disappoint. Fowler makes sure terror is hovering around every corner, which leads to some nail-biting moments.
What I really like about the book is the pacing and the dominant character focus on Drake. Fowler uses this to get straight to the point, which worked perfectly with the premise of the story. If there is one area where I wasn’t completely sold, it would be some of the dialogue at certain sections. There were tiny moments where I lost the connection with the characters, but overall I was highly entertained and couldn’t wait to see how it ended.
For a debut, I’m definitely impressed, both by Fowler’s creativity and his ability to share it with his readers. He pays attention to key points, which is how he keeps you inside the futuristic wasteland. Recommendation wise, I think this is a story for the larger horror audience. It has the gore, it has the action, and Fowler is able to pull it off. Even readers who don’t particularly like zombies could find it very entertaining. I invite all the military action junkies to take a stab at this one as they should like it as well!
Reviewed by Damnetha Jules
Damnetha is a staff writer, horror book and movie critic.
Have you ever wondered what to expect when encountering a zombie? Most of us would jump to conclusions of violence or terror, but in this instance, we’d be wrong.She slowly approaches humans, reaching out a decomposing hand, gazing longingly into her eyes. She wants to be included. She thinks she’s the same. Her beauty shows, even as a corpse. Her eyes are a window to her soul. She wants to know why you’re screaming.She pauses as some run away in terror. Others stop and stare straight back, as she stops and watches their actions intently. However, the virus is easily spread. The virus that caused her to become a monster after her death. As she touches the skin of the humans she desperately wishes to befriend, she passes on her condition. It’s only a matter of time until they experience the same, painful fate and roam the land as zombies.It’s not her fault. She doesn’t understand.
The crisp air was filled with the smell of rotting flesh as the police wondered who could have committed such a violent crime. That was when they spotted him.He could have walked straight out of a comic book or vintage movie. Stumbling around, covered in decomposed flesh and moaning rather than talking, the classic zombie had come to life. He had explored the woods, lost, not capable of thought yet desperate for one thing – flesh. This creature knew nothing but evil and roared and bared his blood stained teeth as the community officers ran towards him. Upon realising they were not dealing with a human entity, they froze with fear as the zombie overpowered every one, violently ripping the flesh from their bones and gorging on their corpses.Those brave men lost their lives that night, yet the zombie lives on, ready to feast on another unwilling victim.
Some of our flaws follow us, even in death. She had been plagued with zits and boils her whole life and had despised every last one, up until her death. Now reanimated, several yellow zits remain on her skin, standing out in contrast to the decomposed flesh. Even as a zombie, the zits are an unwelcome feature.Feeling bitter, she preys on pretty girls. The girls with clear skin and long shiny hair. No matter how much they screamed, she would not be distracted from her mission, aiming to destroy them the way she had been. Their beauty would soon be taken from them, as she feasted on their flesh. To her, it’s simply justice.Her craving for blood and beauty will never fade, putting every girl in town at risk for ever more.