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marimoose's review against another edition
3.0
Two things. Normally, I don't read war books all that often, especially ones with a degree of historical perspective. The other thing is that while I do occasionally read zombie comics, watch zombie movies, and play zombie games, I haven't been as keen as reading zombie books (I mean, I have read a few, but most have never really come up as particularly likable).
All that said, I actually quite like this book. By the Blood of Heroes is part one of Nassise's The Great Undead War series. Book one deals with a specialized mission involving the rescue of American pilot Jack Freeman out of the clutches of German enemy lines. Now let's mention the fact that the one leading this mission is a war veteran with a steampunky metallic arm. Oh, and the Germans have invented zombie gas. And the Red Baron, Germany's top ace, is a thinking zombie. Yeah, problems all around.
Maybe it was the steampunk, or maybe it was the historical period (I've always had such a fascination with WWI), or maybe it was the fact that there was so much going on, but I was certainly entertained. It did help that the characters were distinct, and that I felt anxious to see the Americans succeed. All the same, there were occasional glimpses of Baron Richthofen in the story, and I loved that point of view (particularly interesting because be is a zombie).
Mostly my caveat was that I realized (too late, as usual) that the book was a series, and while there is a relative degree of success occurring in the novel, the epilogue was pretty bleak.
Suddenly, everybody dies...
All that said, I actually quite like this book. By the Blood of Heroes is part one of Nassise's The Great Undead War series. Book one deals with a specialized mission involving the rescue of American pilot Jack Freeman out of the clutches of German enemy lines. Now let's mention the fact that the one leading this mission is a war veteran with a steampunky metallic arm. Oh, and the Germans have invented zombie gas. And the Red Baron, Germany's top ace, is a thinking zombie. Yeah, problems all around.
Maybe it was the steampunk, or maybe it was the historical period (I've always had such a fascination with WWI), or maybe it was the fact that there was so much going on, but I was certainly entertained. It did help that the characters were distinct, and that I felt anxious to see the Americans succeed. All the same, there were occasional glimpses of Baron Richthofen in the story, and I loved that point of view (particularly interesting because be is a zombie).
Mostly my caveat was that I realized (too late, as usual) that the book was a series, and while there is a relative degree of success occurring in the novel, the epilogue was pretty bleak.
Suddenly, everybody dies...
janiemcpants's review
4.0
I had one hell of a good time reading this book, and the author clearly had one hell of a good time writing it. Alternate history, steampunk gadgets, an action-packed adventure with real stakes, and what an ending! I can't wait to read the next one.
karlthulhu's review against another edition
4.0
I very much enjoyed this book. A mash-up of steampunk, zombies, alternate history and boys-own war story, it was perhaps in serious danger of over-egging the pudding, but fortunately the author avoids that and instead manages to create a fast moving, rip-roaring yarn.
The creation of ‘corpse gas’ by German scientists has driven the Great War to last much longer than perhaps it should. Reanimated corpses of both German and Allied soldiers attack the Allies, forcing the war into a nightmarish stalemate. Other zombie soldiers seem to have held on to their personality, the most famous of these being The Bloody Red Baron, Von Richtofen himself, who plays a major part in this book.
It’s the Baron who sets the events of this tale off, as he shoots down American flying Ace Major Jack Freeman. Freeman’s half-brother, Captain Michael Burke and his team of fighting men is dispatched to rescue him, as Freeman is more important than a normal soldier…
Nassise creates a fascinating tale that, while fantastic, feels grounded and credible. Some of the characters in Burke’s squad are somewhat underdeveloped, and the novel isn’t quite as clever as Kim Newman’s The Bloody Red Baron, which it will invariably be compared to. It is however a lot of fun, and Nassise has a steady and assured style of writing that makes his prose a pleasure to read. I would recommend it to fans of alt-history and steampunk novels, especially if they enjoy a bit of horror too!
7.5/10
The creation of ‘corpse gas’ by German scientists has driven the Great War to last much longer than perhaps it should. Reanimated corpses of both German and Allied soldiers attack the Allies, forcing the war into a nightmarish stalemate. Other zombie soldiers seem to have held on to their personality, the most famous of these being The Bloody Red Baron, Von Richtofen himself, who plays a major part in this book.
It’s the Baron who sets the events of this tale off, as he shoots down American flying Ace Major Jack Freeman. Freeman’s half-brother, Captain Michael Burke and his team of fighting men is dispatched to rescue him, as Freeman is more important than a normal soldier…
Nassise creates a fascinating tale that, while fantastic, feels grounded and credible. Some of the characters in Burke’s squad are somewhat underdeveloped, and the novel isn’t quite as clever as Kim Newman’s The Bloody Red Baron, which it will invariably be compared to. It is however a lot of fun, and Nassise has a steady and assured style of writing that makes his prose a pleasure to read. I would recommend it to fans of alt-history and steampunk novels, especially if they enjoy a bit of horror too!
7.5/10
sgtbigg's review
4.0
First World War and zombies, how could you go wrong? It's not really the First World War, more of a steampunky version of it. Not sure how I feel about the whole idea and it probably only rates 3.5 stars but I'll read the next book when it comes out.
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