The Zed’s World series started well – and just keeps getting better.The characters met in the earlier books, at least those who have survived, continue to grow: real people, all of them, reacting to their fears, hopes and slights the way that normal folks caught in a far from normal situation might well respond. The vast numbers of the undead (an early news bulletin from the government had requested they not be referred to as zombies) vary from fast runners who do not tire to those still mindlessly growling in cars, held by seat belts they don’t know how to open, and everything in between. The food is running out for those who managed to stay out of their attention and now survivors have to forage for supplies, risking detection. There might be greater safety in numbers, but there are tensions, too, threatening to upset even the well prepared. And there is real hostility existing from the very beginning between some families.
Well written with excellent characterisation and seen from several points of view, this zombie story is unusual in it’s feel of total plausibility. Plenty of action and very visual, there is a fair amount of gore being extracted both from humans and the Zed’s.
The narration is by Andrew Wehrlen, reading with just the right amount of flippancy to keep the story both grounded and flowing well. He maintains a fast pace, never becoming over emotional in presentation, allowing the story to tell itself. Each character, too, is individually and appropriately voiced, whether male or female (and there are many). A very good performance.
My thanks to the rights holder for freely gifting me a complimentary copy of No Way Out after I had requested it, via Audiobook Boom. Not usually overly impressed by zombie stories, Zed World has had me gripped since book I. The tensions continue to climb: book four is hugely anticipated by this reader.
Recommended highly for all with a fondness for the zombie genre or any apocalyptic fans. It excels.