Book Chick City: BOOK REVIEW Part 2: Zombie - An Anthology of the Undead

BOOK REVIEW Part 2: Zombie - An Anthology of the Undead

Tuesday, February 02, 2010 | Posted by Book Chick City |

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Title: Zombie - An Anthology of the Undead

Author: Kelley Armstrong among others. Edited by Christopher Golden

Publisher: Piatkus

Publications Date 18 March 2010

Paperback: 500 pages

Genre: Horror

Tags: Zombies

Life Sentence by Kelley Armstrong

Short Summary:

A very wealthy man from a long line of sorcerers is diagnosed with cancer. He spends his last months searching for a cure in the supernatural world. He sends his very faithful assistant to find scientists researching and experimenting with zombie science and necromancy. Once he finds one, he waits as the procedure is perfected before using it for himself.

Review:

This was a great story. Very different in style and feel to the previous one I reviewed with less desolation and apocalyptic type atmosphere and more of an urban fantasy vibe. Life Sentence had a definite beginning, middle and end and didn't feel as though it had been plucked from a larger work. This had a story arc that finished with the last word. This wasn't a bad thing but I felt as though I knew everything there was to know about the character of Daniel Boyd, which made him slightly shallow.

However, Daniel was an interesting character, although not a very likable one. A very rich man used to getting everything and anything he wanted and who thought he could defy death. His faithful assistant Shana, however, was a very intriguing character. She gave me the feeling that there was a lot more going on with her even though she wasn't given an awful lot to say. But her actions spoke a thousand words.

Shana was the one Daniel sent out into the field, so to speak, to find the scientists and the one who was put in danger time and again, while Daniel watched via a video in the comfort of his hotel suite, with a girl he couldn't remember the name of in the shower and a brandy in his hand. So, in my eyes, he wasn't just unlikable he was also a coward.

Once the scientist, who was advanced enough in zombie science was found, Daniel waited while the procedure was perfected using his own employees as the test subjects, before using it on himself. However, all did not go as planned...

Life Sentence was a very entertaining read. It was more fun than disturbing and the ending was good and satisfying, if a little predictable. Still, another great story from Zombie: An Anthology of the Undead.

**Look out for Book Review Part 3 tomorrow**

Read Book Review Part 1

Thank you to PIATKUS for sending me this book for review

Labels: Anthology, Book Reviews

9 comments:

jacabur1 said...: Interesting review, never heard of this book and probably will not read it since Zombies do not be my main reading preference. Cool though that found something written inside by Kelley Armstrong that probably would never have known about otherwise...
Thanks for sharing...

jackie b central texas; 2 February 2010 18:52
A Buckeye Girl Reads said...: I've never heard of this book either, and will have to keep it in mind for one of my challenges that calles for an anthology. Good review!; 2 February 2010 18:55
Amanda said...: Not trying to nit-pick here, but I'm wondering....

Is the book called Zombie or Zombies? You say "Zombies" but the picture of the book cover says "Zombie."; 2 February 2010 19:15
Book Chick City said...: Amanda - that is a bit nit-picky but thanks for pointing it out LOL; 2 February 2010 19:17
ck.twilighter (Chasity) said...: Oh Goodies... what a great review!! Kelley Armstrong is among my alllllll time favorite authors!!=); 3 February 2010 09:05
Serena said...: sounds like another complete story in this collection. fantastic.; 3 February 2010 14:24
Rebecca @ DSB said...: I've never heard of this anthology, but Kelley Armstrong's story would be the one I'd one to read most. It sounds interesting. Are you getting burnt out reading nothing but zombie stories? That's what I don't like about these thematic anthologies. I read a huge vampire romance anthology last summer and just about killed my love for good vamp stories that way.; 3 February 2010 15:47
Book Chick City said...: Rebecca - it's a great anthology and I am enjoying it. I don't think I will get burnt out on zombie stories as it's a 500 page book, so not that much bigger than a normal novel would be. Saying that I doubt I will read every single story :); 3 February 2010 15:58
vvb32 reads said...: ooo, i like the premise of adding cancer into the mix of things.; 3 February 2010 16:45