White Trash Zombie Apocalypse by Diana Rowland

Amazon Summary:

Our favorite white trash zombie, Angel Crawford, has enough problems of her own, what with dealing with her alcoholic, deadbeat dad, issues with her not-quite boyfriend, the zombie mafia, industrial espionage and evil corporations. Oh, and it’s raining, and won’t let up.

But things get even crazier when a zombie movie starts filming in town, and Angel begins to suspect that it’s not just the plot of the movie that's rotten. Soon she's fighting her way through mud, blood, bullets and intrigue, even as zombies, both real and fake, prowl the streets.

Angel’s been through more than her share of crap, but this time she’s in way over her head. She’ll need plenty of brainpower to fit all the pieces—and body parts—together in order to save herself, her town, and quite possibly the human race.

At least for now.

My Thoughts:

This is the third book in the White Trash Zombie series. I've really enjoyed the first two. The third book feels a bit bogged down. We're getting more back story to who the zombies are, where they might come from and who are the evil private/gov't companies trying to abuse all of this? Angel is right in the thick of it all. 

It's humorous and fun. It's not great lit but it's not supposed to be. I like the other books better but I feel like it's just middle series slump. I'm sure the next one will pick up with the back story we get in this one.

Plus, the covers of each of these books are phenomenal. If you enjoy zombie lore and funny with a kick-ass female character this is the series for you!

Once Halloween gets a bit closer, I think I'll keep working on the rest of the series.

World War Z by Max Brooks

Image Source

I really enjoyed this one the second time around. Max Brooks knows how to paint a plausible picture of a real-life viral zombie apocalypse. How do the various countries handle the outbreak? How does it spread? How does the world population fall and who survives and how? How do countries rebuild?

This book has pretty much nothing to do with the movie starring Brad Pitt, other than the title and a few of the events, but other than that the two stories are completely and totally different.

The book is an oral history written down. The journalist decides to interview a lot of people who have survived World War Z and get their stories down. He breaks it up into a chronological history. How it starts and who knows about it; how it spreads...the Great Panic; etc. He gets stories from various people in different countries. So we get a picture of how the whole world handled this war.

A few of my favorite stories:

The Italian military buried beneath in the catacombs. That was scary. The few survivors trying to make it up north to Canada where it's so cold that the zombies freeze. The story about a woman who is guided to safety through zombie jungle by a strange voice on the radio. The under water zombie divers. How the dogs were trained and contributed to the war effort. How Russia becomes a Holy Empire again...

The only thing I'd complain about is some of the stories were a bit dry but that's to be expected. I think it makes the stories more believable as a whole.

Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion

I also read this as part of R.I.P. VIII.

Goodreads summary:

R is a young man with an existential crisis--he is a zombie. He shuffles through an America destroyed by war, social collapse, and the mindless hunger of his undead comrades, but he craves something more than blood and brains. He can speak just a few grunted syllables, but his inner life is deep, full of wonder and longing. He has no memories, no identity, and no pulse, but he has dreams.

After experiencing a teenage boy's memories while consuming his brain, R makes an unexpected choice that begins a tense, awkward, and strangely sweet relationship with the victim's human girlfriend. Julie is a blast of color in the otherwise dreary and gray landscape that surrounds R. His decision to protect her will transform not only R, but his fellow Dead, and perhaps their whole lifeless world. 

My Thoughts:

I love me some zombie stories. I do! I love the premise behind this book. A zombie romance and a slight retelling of Romeo & Juliet, sounds like it should be a zombie book made in heaven, right?

I'm sure most people find it a good one. But it was too preachy. I didn't like that. And it just didn't make sense...all this time no zombie has figured out how to come back but take a young, nubile, white, blond woman and a once-white guy in suburban America....sparks fly and they can save the whole human and zombie race!

It had so much potential. And I know I'm nitpicking...but this story didn't speak to me. I'd say more but don't want to give away any spoilers.

Book Vs. Movie:

The movie was completely neutered from the actual book but that actually made me relate to the movie a whole lot more. The movie was more about the romance and love saving the world and more about tolerance. So hands down, the movie for me! Even though it's still only an OK zombie movie ;)

Image Sources: Goodreads.com

Zombie Nation: From Folklore to Modern Frenzy by E.R. Vernor

Image Source

This is a really fun and information-packed zombie book. The book's pages are all color with bright photos and blood-like smears. Almost every page comes with little info boxes that look like hazard warnings. So it's pretty.

It's short with only 4 chapters but he's not trying to do an in-depth history of zombie lore and culture. Vernor explores zombie ideas from religion in chapter one. He gives quotes from the Epic of Gilgamesh to the Bible. Zombies have been a pretty long time. Then he tackles some of the science behind zombie-ism. What could cause it? He gives some modern-day examples of people going crazy and then eating people. He does get a bit political when it comes to government stuff but I ignored it and moved on. Chapter 3 explores movies and books. I got some great ideas for some movies to check out. The final chapter focuses on using the zombie craze to truly get prepared for man-made or nature-caused disasters. He stresses survival preparedness. If you are prepared for an all-out zombie apocalypse, you are prepared for almost anything!

A great book to get a sampling of the zombie craze!

I reviewed this through NetGalley.

Zombies Vs. Unicorns by Holly Black & My Life As a White Trash Zombie by Diana Rowland

Part of Velvet's September's Zombies Event!

Genre: young adult, zombies, fantasy
FTC Disclosure: borrowed from library
Published: 2010
Pages: 415
Content: zombie violence and unicorn mayhem.


Summary: The best darn humorous zombie and unicorn anthology ever!


Funny. This is an anthology of stories on zombies and unicorns (separate stories). Holly Black is a unicorn fan and Justine Larbalestier is the zombie lover. They both have little dialogues at the beginning of each story describing why respective story beats out the unicorn or the zombie! They're both very witty. The stories are each unique, and some are funny and some are violent. You just never know what you're going to get. One has a unicorn farting rose-smelling farts, one has zombies as everyday Joes.


I loved me some unicorns as a little girl but now that I'm older and "mature," I love me some brainzzzz ;) So go team ZOMBIE!!!!!


Rating: 4 stars

Genre:  paranormal, urban fantasy, zombies, mystery
FTC Disclosure: bought from Smith's
Published: 2011
Pages: 310 
Content: Lots of zombie brainzzzz and lovin'.

Summary: Surprisingly awesome rendition of zombie lore, humor, and crime fiction!

The cover alone made me wanna get it! It's just awesome. And the story does not disappoint. Angel is a white trash loser. Pain killer addict, lives with her abusive dad, and can't keep a job...til she wakes up in the hospital with a poor memory of how she got there and a desire for brainzzzz. All she gets is a note that says go to the morgue, you've got a job, along with a some bottles of brain goo.

It takes her a bit to figure out she's dead and a zombie but it's fun getting there. It's fun watching her change and get her life together. And she's a zombie!!!! Rowland's zombie world is just awesome. Zombies can be the good guys; they just gotta eat the brains!!! They don't even have to be fresh. Throw in a cute cop romance...and her trying to solve who made her a zombie and why people keep turning up with their heads missing. Only a mystery Angel can solve. Brainzzzzz.

So yes, go pick up this book. Go!!! Eat your brains first, though.

Rating: 4.5 stars

Dreadnought by Cherie Priest

Genre: Steampunk, historical
FTC Disclosure: bought from Borders
Published: 2010
Pages: 400
Content: PG-13 for war and zombie violence.

One Line Review: This one wasn't as wonderful as the original Boneshaker, but it was still fun.

Priest links the two novels together at the end, which was fun to see some of the original characters.

Mercy Lynch is a nurse in the South during the Civil War and receives a telegram telling her to come and see her long-lost father before he passes. So she takes passage on a dirigible and soon a train bound for the West...along the way she meets quite the characters and zombies! Will she survive and make it to see her father? Well, I'm sure you can guess that but it's about the journey!

Mercy was a fun heroine. She is tough and smart and quick on her feet and yet still has her weaknesses and vulnerabilities.

Priest always paints a wonderful alternative history here in the States. The Civil War is going on forever and Texas is its own country.

Overall a great addition to the series!


Rating: 4/5

The Affinity Bridge by George Mann

Genre: steam punk, zombies, Victorian England, mystery
FTC Disclosure: library
Published: 2008
Pages: 330
Content: PG-13 for violence and adult themes

I was really excited about this book. I'm a big steam punk fan and was looking forward to this new novel...what a disappointment. The characters Hobbes and Newbury were flat and not that entertaining. The plot felt very cliche and I knew the outcome before the halfway mark. Also, much of the dialogue was just mediocre, oh and did I mention cliche?

There was one fight scene with the zombies that was fun...I was really hoping they would get to eat one of the characters!

This one just didn't stand out for me and I wouldn't recommend it.  But I will say, if you are just looking for a really quick, mind numbing read then maybe you can enjoy it.

Dawn of the Dreadfuls by Steve Hockensmith and Quirk Books Giveaways!!!!!!

Genre: austen-inspired, zombies, paranormal
FTC Disclosure: ARC from Quirk Books
Published: 2010
Pages: 288
Content: PG-13 for zombie mayhem and violence


One Line Summary: More zombie mayhem with the lovely Bennets in tow.


Velvet at vvb32 reads let me know that Quirk Books was offering advanced review copies to all who wanted one! So I signed on up and received my own free copy of Dawn of the Dreadfuls. As part of the deal Quirk Classics is offering readers with a chance to win one of 50 Quirk Classics Prize Packs, each with a retail value of more than $100, which will also include:

• An advance copy of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls
• Audio Books of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters
• A password redeemable online or sample audio chapters of Dawn of the Dreadfuls
• An awesome Dawn of the Dreadfuls poster
• A Pride and Prejudice and Zombies journal
• A box set of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies postcards

And since I'm participating in their Dawn of the Dreadfuls mayhem week I am including an unashamedly fast link to their site so that you can mention my blog on it! Dawn of the Dreadfuls Reviews.  OK, I've held my end of the bargain, so now onto the review!

I liked this book. It still had lots of zombie mayhem and violence, which I always find extra delightful! This book takes place four years before P&P&Z, when Lizzie is just about to hold her coming-out into society ball. But while at a funeral the deceased comes back to life as a zombie Lizzie's father Mr. Bennett knows the unmentionables are back. He rallies his daughters together to teach them to fight like warriors! While he's trying to round up the army to fight he sends for a new master to teach his daughters the warrior ways and in comes Master Hawksworth. Lizzie feels strangely attracted to this man...and along comes a scientist doctor Dr. Keckilpenny to throw more romance strife into her life too! And poor Jane must fight off the lecherous advances of the Lord of Netherfield Park!

I enjoyed Pride and Prejudice and Zombies a little better, though. I'm it's because it already had the story I loved with some zombies thrown in. But this one can stand on its own. Lizzie is still witty, Jane is still beautiful and thinks everyone is wonderful, the rest of the Bennets are still as annoying as ever! The only thing that I didn't like was the plot inconsistencies from Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (since it's supposed to be a prequel) and, of course, from Austen's beloved original. But those are minor and as a story by itself I really enjoyed it! Lots of zombie killings and beheadings and such. You just can't go wrong there!

Rating: 4/5

Don't forget to click on the links to plug my blog and enter to win some prizes! Thanks again to Tiffany at Quirk Books for this fun opportunity!

Boneshaker by Cherie Priest

Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Steampunk, sci-fi, alternate history
Published: 2009
Pages: 414
FTC Disclosure: bought from Dragons and Fairytales
Content: PG-13 for zombie violence and some mild swearing with no f-bombs

This book was fantastic! I was hooked from the start with images of Seattle walled up and streaming with zombies and a zombie-turning gas, airships and air pirates and the Civil War going on forever in the East. Even the ink on the page is in a sepia type ink so it makes you feel even more apart of the world she has created.

Briar Wilkes and her son live on the Outskirts of the walled up Seattle and struggling to make a living...see it was her husband Dr. Blue that created the Boneshaker that caused the terrible destruction to Seattle and the people within. But her son Zeke wants to know more about his father and maybe even to clear his name so he sneaks inside the wall one night hoping to find the evidence he needs. Things never go as planned and it's up to his mother Briar to rescue him.

And of course, along the way they meet all sorts of characters good and bad and zombies. The book starts with Briar and Zeke together and once they get separated a different chapter is devoted to each and leads us up to where they reunite...it's pretty clever.

It's an intriguing story whether or not you are a sci-fi fan...it's fast and engrossing and enjoyed every minute of it! Cherie Priest, I want more!

Rating: 5/5!

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

I was expecting some good things from this book and I was not disappointed. It's full of action, thoughtfulness, love and romance, and zombies. All things I love in a novel. Though, the ending was a bit disappointing. I'm hoping that the ending means their are more books to come in this world of the Unconsecrated. I am informed that yes, there is a sequel The Dead-tossed Waves due out in March, I think.

We see the world from the perspective of Mary. She lives in a small village in the middle of a forest that is infested with zombies. They are the last remnants of the human race uninfected or so the Sisterhood tells everyone. But soon the village is finally overrun by the zombies and her, her brother, her friend, and the two men she loves escape with her into the forest. Her mother has told her stories of the world before the zombies came into it and she sets out to find the ocean and this world that may be free from the zombies.

There are a few things not patched up for me and a few plot twists that I didn't like, but I feel that it is another great zombie classic and am looking forward to its sequel!

Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow

ONE LINE REVIEW: Great concept, though a bit on the confusing side.

I really enjoyed the concept of this book. We have a teen girl who, with her dad, hunts the supernatural. But soon her dad's a zombie and she's left to fend for herself against the Big Baddies out there. She meets up with a partial werewolf and a half vampire who are trying to keep her safe from the super evil vampire Sergej who wants her dead because she's "special."

Like I said and interesting concept, but I just didn't like the book's writing style. Some parts were a bit confusing...I didn't understand what was happening until a bit later in some parts and there are some words that are just kind of odd...like we have Musak instead of music and wulf instead of wolf and no explanation why it was different. Not a big deal, just a bit confusing.

But since I find the concept so intriguing I'm still interested in the next book in the series; I just hope it's a bit more understandable.

Language: It also has quite a few f-bombs, just a heads up.

Fun Quotes:"The smell of apple pies didn't quite fill the house, but it was there, a thread under everything else. It was kind of hard to take Christophe seriously when he smelled like baked goods. I wondered if other djampjir smelled like Hostess Twinkies and sniggered to myself."

Part of the Helluva Halloween and R.I.P challenges.

Book Review: Never Slow Dance With a Zombie by E. Van Lowe

Back of Book Summary:

Principal Taft's 3 Simple Rules for Surviving a Zombie Uprising:

Rule #1: While in the halls, walk slowly and wear a vacant expression on your face. Zombies won't attack other zombies.

Rule #2: Never travel alone. Move in packs. Follow the crowd. Zombies detest blatant displays of individuality.

Rule #3: If a zombie should attack, do not run. Instead, throw raw steak at to him. Zombies love raw meat. This display of kindness will go a long way.

On the night of her middle school graduation, Margot Jean Johnson wrote a high school manifesto detailing her goals for what she was sure would be a most excellent high school career. She and her best friend, Sybil, would be popular and, most important, have boyfriends. Three years later, they haven't accomplished a thing!

Then Margot and Sybil arrive at school one day to find that most of the student body has been turned into flesh-eating zombies. When kooky Principal Taft asks the girls to coexist with the zombies until the end of the semester, they realize that this is the perfect opportunity to live out their high school dreams. All they have to do is stay alive....

My Review:

I really loved this book, especially after coming off of Zombie Blondes, which I didn't like, to this one was wonderful! I really enjoy satires, books that go over the top to make their point. This book did not disappoint. We have Sybil and Margot who discover that all most all of their classmates have been turned into zombies. What does Margot want to do? She wants to be the most popular girl in school (though, she is the only one not undead!). While Sybil just wants to get the zombies to "declique" from their cliques! As Margot strives to rule the school and stay safe from the zombies her and Sybil slowly grow apart. Can they keep their friendship, cure their classmates, discover the culprit, and survive high school? These are the themes I experienced in high school. How to hold onto the good friends I've got and not worry about what the popular kids say, etc. How to make a difference in school? How do I survive? Granted, I never had to fight off zombies and live among them, but don't we all have a bit of zombie in us?

This is part of the Helluva Halloween Challenge and R.I.P. Challenge.

Book Review: Zombie Blondes by Brian James

Zombie Blondes:

Back Cover Summary:

From the moment Hannah Sanders arrived in town, she felt there was something wrong.
A lot of houses were for sale, and the town seemed infected by an unearthly quiet. And then, on Hannah’s first day of classes, she ran into a group of cheerleaders—the most popular girls in school.
The odd thing was that they were nearly identical in appearance: blonde, beautiful, and deathly pale.
But Hannah wants desperately to fit in—regardless of what her friend Lukas is telling her: if she doesn’t watch her back, she’s going to be blonde and popular and dead—just like all the other zombies in this town. . . .

My Review:

I really, really wanted to like this book...It started out pretty good. We have Hannah and her father and we learn how they're always moving from town to town and that her father has some mysterious past as an ex-cop. And poor Hannah just wants to fit in, but the only person that befriends her is the freaky kid Lukas. She just wants to fit in, especially with the beautiful and popular cheerleading squad lead by Maggie.

I never really warmed up to Hannah, she was just too eager to please, too selfish, and too stupid and thus easily led. But I never got the dread of the zombies in the sense that you could really just pack up your things and head out of town and never be bothered again. Here's Lukas complaining about all these zombies and he'll be next, but never leaving and when Hannah finally realizes that there's zombies she just gives up hope and assumes she'll eventually become one too....Hello, it's called getting in a car and gettin' the hell out of Dodge, for cryin' out loud!

Just too many unanswered question for me and the ending was just too rushed and unbelievable. It had a nice start, but then fizzled out at the end. Too bad, I really, really, really wanted to like this book....

This is part of the RIP Challenge and the Helluva Halloween Challenge.

Zombie Challenge: Haiku

For my second post for the Zombie Challenge I decided to do Haiku poetry zombie style! Granted, I haven't written Haiku since I was in elementary school, which was eons ago. So these are a bit rusty...so bear with me!

Zombies awake!
Let us go up, for fresh brains
and earth await!

Am I a zombie?
See my soul within! Awake!
And be a zombie no more.

I don't even know if these would technically qualify, but oh well, I gave it a go!

Zombie Bite Giveaway

Velvet at vvb32 is hosting another zombie giveaway! Click here for more information. If you take the zombie calculator test you will be able to win World War Z by Max Brooks.

This is how long I'd last if I were bitten by a zombie before becoming totally infected!


Created by The Oatmeal


My last meal would be anything yummy I could get my hands on! Before brains become the nasties I would eat!

Zombie Challenge: Movie Review: White Zombie

I bought four DVDs of Horror Classics a few years ago for Halloween and have been slowly watching them off and on. So I thought the Zombie Challenge by Velvet would be a wonderful opportunity to watch White Zombie with Bela Lugosi.

A young engaged couple find themselves in Haiti to meet a Mr. Beaumont who will setup a business opportunity for Nathaniel. But on the way meet a bunch of zombies and their master, who steals Madeleine's scarf...

Basically, Mr. Beaumont wants Madeleine for himself and convinces the zombie master to help and thus she's turned into a zombie. Her fiancee and a local doctor must save the day!

This was a fun and cheesy horror classic. These zombies weren't the undead that ate brains like today, but those who are put into a trance-like state and are under mind control, such as in the Voudou tradition. And this was the movie that introduced America to the concept of zombies!!! A true horror classic, for sure!

The Dreaded Zombie Chicken Award!

Al from Publish or Perish has so thoughtfully given the Zombie Chicken Award due to my unusual interest in zombies! Thanks so much, Al! It's a real privilege to be honored with such an award!

The Details:

The blogger who receives this award believes in the Tao of the zombie chicken – excellence, grace and persistence in all situations, even in the midst of a zombie apocalypse. These amazing bloggers regularly produce content so remarkable that their readers would brave a raving pack of zombie chickens just to be able to read their inspiring words. As a recipient of this world-renowned award, you now have the task of passing it on to at least 5 other worthy bloggers. Do not risk the wrath of the zombie chickens by choosing unwisely or not choosing at all.

I would like to pass along this dreaded award to those that either love zombies as much and I'm sure a lot more than me and to those that I would brave a pack of crazed zombie chickens just to be able to read their inspiring words!

Kim at Musty Meanderings of the Middle Ages: She always has something either inspiring or informative or both!

Velvet at vvb32 reads: She has enormous amounts of zombie love too and lots of other things to boot!

Devon at Devon's Quiet Corner: She's just so sweet...she follows both of my blogs and comments on my lame-o posts and what she has to say on hers is fun and interesting as well!

Zombie Girrrl from Crackin' Spines & Takin' Names: She's also a fellow zombie lover and all of her book reviews are unique and fun!

Michelle from Torch Under The Blanket: She has a fascinating and very creative blog!

Buckeye Girl from A Buckeye Girl Reads: She has also joined in on the zombie challenge and she loves romances so if you want some good ideas check out her blog!

There are so many more, but not enough time so please share the zombie chicken love to those most deserving and in order to not be cursed by aforesaid zombie chickens!

Zombie Challenge: Zombie and Its Origins Part II

According to Gary Rhodes in his book White Zombie: Anatomy of a Horror Film common usage of the word zombie only really took off after the release of the highly successful movie White Zombie in 1932. There was even a court case over the use of the word zombie when the Halperins (the makers of the White Zombie film) wanted to make an unlicensed sequel (Revolt of the Zombies) to the original. According to More Word Histories and Mysteries the company that was suing them "successfully argued that most Americans knew the world only from the original film, even if it had been used previously in bestselling books and had already appeared in dictionaries." They also were able to force a witness for the Halperins to admit that "zombie had no general meaning in the English language and that not one person in a hundred knew what it meant before White Zombie."

And with the movie Night of the Living Dead in 1968 the association of zombies and Haitian Vodou was almost gone. From then on zombies were flesh-eating villains who could infect others and could only be killed by violent blows to the head! (Check out Pride and Prejudice and Zombies for this exact rendering of zombies)!

But there is also plenty of scholarly interest in Vodou and zombies. Ethnobotantist Wade Davis offered a scientific explanation for zombification: "Vodou sorcerers first induced a deathlike state in their victims and then woke them into a zombie trance by administering powerful drugs obtained from local plants and animals."

There's no doubt about it, there are plenty of resources on anything zombie, whether it's watching a movie, reading a book, or looking online! Go zombies!

Zombie Challenge: Zombie and Its Origins Part I

Zombies have origins in the Haitian religion of Vodou. The actual word zombie was borrowed into English from Haitian Creole (which comes from French and various African languages). It also comes from the Bantu language family of Africa and was brought from West Africa with slaves that were sent to French plantations before 1804. Various word origins include: zumbi "object with supernatural powers," and zambi "ghost, departed spirit," from the language Kikongo and nzambi "god" in Kimbundu.

According to More Word Histories and Mysteries:

...zombies are believed to possess only the part of the soul that animates the body, for they have been deprived of the aspect of the soul that gives them their individual personality and the ability to make moral judgments.

Zombie didn't appear in English til the 19th century in various historical works, but entered popular speech in the early 20th century. William Seabrook wrote a sensationalized memoir of his time in Haiti called The Magic Island and subsequently introduced the American public to zombies in 1929.

So fascinating. All of this information was taken from More Word Histories and Mysteries from the editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. I'll be adding more for another day!

Book Review: Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
Definitely a fun new take on the original "Pride and Prejudice." Throw some zombies into the mix and you've got a great story!


View all my reviews.