SIEGE (As the World Dies #3)
by Rhiannon Frater
PUBLISHER: Tor US
RELEASE DATE: 24th April 2012
FORMAT: Advance Reader Copy, 359 pages
GENRE: Horror, Zombies
The zombie illness has shattered civilization. The survivors who have found tenuous safety in Texas defend their fort against the walking dead and living bandits. Katie has made peace with the death of her wife and is pregnant and married to Travis, who has been elected Mayor. Jenni, her stepson, Jason; and Juan—Travis’s righthand man—are a happy family, though Jenni suffers from PTSD. Both women are deadly zombie killers.
In Siege, the people of Ashley Oaks are stunned to discover that the vice president of the United States is alive and commanding the remnants of the US military. What’s left of the US government has plans for this group of determined survivors. (Goodreads)
REVIEWER: Carolyn
**Warning – may contain spoilers, read at your own risk!**
SIEGE is a bittersweet end to an amazing trilogy. Frater isn’t afraid to shock her readers by killing off certain main characters. This book was littered with the bodies of characters I’d come to know and love.
The Fort and it’s residents have to deal with so much, from the violence of the military and government, to thousands of zombies descending upon their beloved home.
As usual there’s plenty of action, which moves the story along at a high pace. I really enjoy Frater’s writing style and she always manages to pull me into her zombie world from the outset.
There isn’t as much of Jenni and Katie in this instalment as in previous books as we get to see the world from the perspective of many of the secondary characters as well. Although I enjoyed reading about the other characters, I did miss Jenni and Katie and wish the book had more from their view point. However, each character is so interesting it didn’t spoil my enjoyment of the book.
There are, however, two aspects of SIEGE that didn’t sit well with me. The first one was the introduction of ghosts. I realise this is a novel about zombies, but I need to believe what is happening to my character’s and the world which surrounds them. Frater does this beautifully. However, the ghost aspect of the plot didn’t really work for me. What was possibly just a sign of Jenni’s madness in the previous novels became reality in this one and it gave the story a slightly unrealistic, and dare I say it, silliness, which made me uncomfortable, as I love this series SO much.
The second aspect was a life-changing incident that although didn’t shock me, as I had my suspicions it was coming, it did sadden me to the core. One of the main characters dies!! It wasn’t that this particular character died that upset me, as I think it was a gutsy and brave decision by the author, but that the character made the choice to die even though they had loved ones back at the Fort who depended on them, and it just seemed so out of character. I really want to go into my reasons more but it would be a huge spoiler, so I’ll refrain.
The pace picks up speed as it reaches it’s conclusion, lots of tension, action and suspense. And the death of certain characters linger.
I can still visualise the Fort in detail, the surrounding countryside littered with hungry zombies, the residents of the Fort, and of course Katie and Jenni.
Although there doesn’t look as though there will be any future instalments featuring these two amazing, strong female heroines, they have made such an impression on me that I will remember them for a very long time indeed.
I’m very sad to say goodbye…
VERDICT:
A bittersweet end to an amazing trilogy – I’ve loved these books, the characters, the world, and Frater’s exciting writing style. Definitely three of the best zombie novels in the genre today and a series I would recommend without hesitation.
RATING: 
RHIANNON FRATER ONLINE
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BOOKS IN SERIES ORDER
1. The First Days
2. Fighting to Survive
3. Siege
BUY THE BOOK
2 Comments
I think its great when you get a series that has a definitive ending. I hate when autor says a book will only be X ammount books long, only for them to keep flogging a dead horse…
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Gemma – Yes, I agree. This is a fantastic series and it ended on a high note
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