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findingmontauk1's review against another edition
5.0
"There was nothing like death to make you want to cling to what little you had left."
Where the Dead Go to Die is not your average post-apocalyptic zombie book. Not in the slightest. This story goes a step up and humanizes the infected, placing them in hospice care before their transition. This book explores acceptance, understanding, love, death, grief, and loss. It explores humanity at its core and how divisive we can all be, if we did not already know that. But we get divisive over some of the silliest things. And fear is a root cause of a lot of that divisive and ignorance.
I read this one in two sittings and could barely put it down that first time. Each page just flowed so easily and both Dries and Gunnells to an excellent job of collaborating and creating a story that is so unique and compelling. Who would have ever guessed that I could be moved by a "zombie story?" But this one is a gem and I highly recommend it!
4.5 stars - rounded up for Goodreads!
Where the Dead Go to Die is not your average post-apocalyptic zombie book. Not in the slightest. This story goes a step up and humanizes the infected, placing them in hospice care before their transition. This book explores acceptance, understanding, love, death, grief, and loss. It explores humanity at its core and how divisive we can all be, if we did not already know that. But we get divisive over some of the silliest things. And fear is a root cause of a lot of that divisive and ignorance.
I read this one in two sittings and could barely put it down that first time. Each page just flowed so easily and both Dries and Gunnells to an excellent job of collaborating and creating a story that is so unique and compelling. Who would have ever guessed that I could be moved by a "zombie story?" But this one is a gem and I highly recommend it!
4.5 stars - rounded up for Goodreads!
brennanlafaro's review against another edition
4.0
Tired of zombie stories? They’re all the same and no one has anything new to say in that particular sub-genre? I get it. I’ve read two books in recent memory that had something new to say and didn’t just involve hordes of mindless brain-munchers overwhelming a gritty group of survivors. One of those books was River of Souls by T.L.Bodine. and this is the other - the brainchild of authors Mark Allan Gunnells and Aaron Dries.
What really separates Where the Dead Go to Die from other zombie lit is that it’s not really about the zombies. It’s a story that takes place post-apocalypse and sure, zombies are involved, but the main focus is on the people. Especially those working in the care ward where, well, I guess where the dead go to die. A type of hospice care to help future zombies transition from infected to undead with dignity and love.
Dries and Gunnells craft a world where zealots gather outside the hospice, protesting and resisting empathy, not trying to hide the resemblance to pro-lifers gathered outside a family planning clinic. In this bleak world - I mean it’s the zombie apocalypse, and this is the best thing you have to do? - the story focuses on the people who pass the protestors every day to bring a bit of humanity to the newly infected and doomed people living there.
The story focuses on Emily, a new nurse on the ward and a transplant from warmer climes, but for me, and seemingly blatant by the authors, it’s Robby we immediately invest in. The back cover doesn’t tell you why, so I won’t go into it either, but suffice it to say if you become emotionally invested in your horror when children are involved, this one knows precisely which buttons to push.
To my great shame, I haven’t read enough Gunnells to know how much of his style makes its way into this book, but Dries is certainly on display here. Situations and plot themes that are far from surface level, as well as shocking gore when might least expect it point an accusatory finger at the Aussie author. Despite my lack of expertise of Gunnells’ style, there are no points in the story where changes of voice or style are jarring. Rather the story flows seamlessly all the way through.
Emotionally charged with depth and a lot to say, Where the Dead Go to Die is a poignant piece of holiday horror that doesn’t need to be read in December. I’m putting it here to keep myself honest, I’ll be checking out more of Mark Allan Gunnells’ work.
What really separates Where the Dead Go to Die from other zombie lit is that it’s not really about the zombies. It’s a story that takes place post-apocalypse and sure, zombies are involved, but the main focus is on the people. Especially those working in the care ward where, well, I guess where the dead go to die. A type of hospice care to help future zombies transition from infected to undead with dignity and love.
Dries and Gunnells craft a world where zealots gather outside the hospice, protesting and resisting empathy, not trying to hide the resemblance to pro-lifers gathered outside a family planning clinic. In this bleak world - I mean it’s the zombie apocalypse, and this is the best thing you have to do? - the story focuses on the people who pass the protestors every day to bring a bit of humanity to the newly infected and doomed people living there.
The story focuses on Emily, a new nurse on the ward and a transplant from warmer climes, but for me, and seemingly blatant by the authors, it’s Robby we immediately invest in. The back cover doesn’t tell you why, so I won’t go into it either, but suffice it to say if you become emotionally invested in your horror when children are involved, this one knows precisely which buttons to push.
To my great shame, I haven’t read enough Gunnells to know how much of his style makes its way into this book, but Dries is certainly on display here. Situations and plot themes that are far from surface level, as well as shocking gore when might least expect it point an accusatory finger at the Aussie author. Despite my lack of expertise of Gunnells’ style, there are no points in the story where changes of voice or style are jarring. Rather the story flows seamlessly all the way through.
Emotionally charged with depth and a lot to say, Where the Dead Go to Die is a poignant piece of holiday horror that doesn’t need to be read in December. I’m putting it here to keep myself honest, I’ll be checking out more of Mark Allan Gunnells’ work.
spookishmommy's review
4.0
A fun, new twist on the zombie trope. This book reminded me of a movie where everything is gray and moving in slow motion but then it speeds up at the end and everyone is screaming and everything is on fire.
This isnt a fast paced typical zombie story where brains are the main focal point. It's a much more human story that is very relevant to society today. A great, quick read for a cold winter night.
This isnt a fast paced typical zombie story where brains are the main focal point. It's a much more human story that is very relevant to society today. A great, quick read for a cold winter night.
georginaballantine's review
5.0
My first ever zombie book, and what fun I had! I scare easily and hate gore, but had no problems reading Where the Dead Go to Die. The plot rolled along swiftly, the characters engaged me and both the zombies and the humans' decline into zombiehood were suitably chilling.
I found the concept of people infected with the zombie virus being cared for in a hospice as the disease gradually takes hold an intriguing one. Maybe this isn't original in the history of zombie literature, but for me it certainly was.
The ending isn't a happy one and I felt like strangling a particular character, but I liked that it provoked a strong emotional reaction in me. Overall a great, scary, thought-provoking read.
I found the concept of people infected with the zombie virus being cared for in a hospice as the disease gradually takes hold an intriguing one. Maybe this isn't original in the history of zombie literature, but for me it certainly was.
The ending isn't a happy one and I felt like strangling a particular character, but I liked that it provoked a strong emotional reaction in me. Overall a great, scary, thought-provoking read.
bookswithscrump's review
5.0
5 stars (more if I could!) This book was a bloody gut punch to the heart that I was not expecting to love as much as I did. It will definitely make my favourites of the year list! I found this book to be a whole different approach to he always popular zombie narrative, one that I have never read before and I want more like it. The characters were well developed, I really grew attached to them and rooted for them. The atmosphere was excellent and vivid and it made me question what I would do in that situation. If you like horror of any kind, shamble to this book as soon as you can, you won’t regret it!
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