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gnashchick's review
4.0
I gleefully accepted an advance reading copy of this second book in the Time of Death series in exchange for an honest review. Though the author and I are colleagues, I have no problem being brutally honest.
Time of Death: Asylum picks up where Induction left off. The novel begins on a somber note. The remnants of the Rossi family take shelter on a houseboat, far enough off the shoreline to feel somewhat protected from the threat of the undead. Grief for the friends, hope, and lost community is made harder to bear by the realization that it’s Christmas day. They know they have to move on, survive, and make the best of what they have.
It’s tough to break out of the zombie plot shuffle. The grim routine of moving through a landscape choked with undead means there will be killing, dying and surviving. Readers know that every step outside any fortress-like enclosure is going to bring violence and carnage. Other survivors will be found, and there’s always the knowledge that people are going to die, usually in a horrific manner. The author mitigates this routine by bringing humanity and reality to her characters. Not everyone is on the ball. Not everyone thinks rationally. A split-second of inattention is all it takes to fall victim to the shambling horde.
The survivors enter a gated community that promises better security and better cooperation against the threats just outside the walls. It’s no surprise that the community, called Asylum, sets off big screaming klaxons of alarm. Once inside the compound, the relief of safety exposes a rift in Emma and Jake’s marriage, exacerbated by the growing sense of unease within the walls. Something isn’t right here. There’s a little too much shine on the outside, and Emma is certain it hides corruption within. My biggest problem with the novel is that I’ve seen this plot point before in other popular culture, and unless book 3 throws a curveball, I know how this will end.
Second books in a series can suffer from a type of “second season syndrome” where it just doesn’t live up to the promise of the first novel. Yes, Asylum is a good book, but the plot here lacks the same punch as Induction. My feeling is that the initial rush of the outbreak is over, and now the hard work of survival and recovery starts. This book gives us a chance to empathize with the Rossi family and the other survivors they befriend. It’s going deep into psychological territory, the balance of a need to rely on something you deeply mistrust in order to survive. The pace is a little slower, the action spread out a bit wider.
The humor that carried through the first book is echoed in the second, with a caveat. As Emma’s stress rises, her attitude goes from “snarky” to downright mean. She’s more belligerent, and some of her wisecracks conceal verbal knives. In my opinion, this works perfectly to show her emotional state far better than anything she might say.
Don’t worry. there’s action, and plenty of it. After all, these folks aren’t skipping through a field of daisies, here. However, the majority of the story is focused on the characters, their struggles, joy and pain. This is a great cast of characters, and the group adds a few new people they meet along the way. Their stories will keep you glued to the page.
The foreshadowing of the issues within the walls of this sanctuary feels like a long, slow wind up to a third novel that’s going to hit like a Mack truck.
I can’t wait.
Time of Death: Asylum picks up where Induction left off. The novel begins on a somber note. The remnants of the Rossi family take shelter on a houseboat, far enough off the shoreline to feel somewhat protected from the threat of the undead. Grief for the friends, hope, and lost community is made harder to bear by the realization that it’s Christmas day. They know they have to move on, survive, and make the best of what they have.
It’s tough to break out of the zombie plot shuffle. The grim routine of moving through a landscape choked with undead means there will be killing, dying and surviving. Readers know that every step outside any fortress-like enclosure is going to bring violence and carnage. Other survivors will be found, and there’s always the knowledge that people are going to die, usually in a horrific manner. The author mitigates this routine by bringing humanity and reality to her characters. Not everyone is on the ball. Not everyone thinks rationally. A split-second of inattention is all it takes to fall victim to the shambling horde.
The survivors enter a gated community that promises better security and better cooperation against the threats just outside the walls. It’s no surprise that the community, called Asylum, sets off big screaming klaxons of alarm. Once inside the compound, the relief of safety exposes a rift in Emma and Jake’s marriage, exacerbated by the growing sense of unease within the walls. Something isn’t right here. There’s a little too much shine on the outside, and Emma is certain it hides corruption within. My biggest problem with the novel is that I’ve seen this plot point before in other popular culture, and unless book 3 throws a curveball, I know how this will end.
Second books in a series can suffer from a type of “second season syndrome” where it just doesn’t live up to the promise of the first novel. Yes, Asylum is a good book, but the plot here lacks the same punch as Induction. My feeling is that the initial rush of the outbreak is over, and now the hard work of survival and recovery starts. This book gives us a chance to empathize with the Rossi family and the other survivors they befriend. It’s going deep into psychological territory, the balance of a need to rely on something you deeply mistrust in order to survive. The pace is a little slower, the action spread out a bit wider.
The humor that carried through the first book is echoed in the second, with a caveat. As Emma’s stress rises, her attitude goes from “snarky” to downright mean. She’s more belligerent, and some of her wisecracks conceal verbal knives. In my opinion, this works perfectly to show her emotional state far better than anything she might say.
Don’t worry. there’s action, and plenty of it. After all, these folks aren’t skipping through a field of daisies, here. However, the majority of the story is focused on the characters, their struggles, joy and pain. This is a great cast of characters, and the group adds a few new people they meet along the way. Their stories will keep you glued to the page.
The foreshadowing of the issues within the walls of this sanctuary feels like a long, slow wind up to a third novel that’s going to hit like a Mack truck.
I can’t wait.
chllybrd's review
4.0
I gave it 3.5 stars
I am going to jump right into this review without much lead up because I have things on my brain that need to come out. I am not at all crazy about Asylum (the place, not the book). There were a few characters I liked, but most are shady. It was clear to me, as the reader, that this wasn't a good place to be and I think they were a bit naive going there. It could be because I watch The Walking Dead and I got the Terminus vibe (without the people eating that is). I yelled at them to turn back, but no one listened.
I disliked the way things are with Emma and Jake at the end of ASYLUM. They have been through a lot, he should be the one personal Emma should be able to count on. That is all I will say about that. Daphne is still very much a part of the group. She is definitely a bright spot in a dark world, but please for the love of god can we stop talking about her poop? Pretty please? I will say that the dialogue concerning the dog does make me laugh often, but I can only take so much potty talk.
I enjoyed ASYLUM, but I didn't grab me and hold me like book 1 did. There was a lot of what felt like down time/leading up time and a lot of meeting new characters/killing new characters going on. Which in a wasteland of a world is understandable and expected, it just didn't move along and keep my attention like INDUCTION did. Having said that, I am still very much invested in Emma and want to know what will happen next. I will be reading book 3 and I hope some of my issues with ASYLUM will work themselves out as the story continues.
* This book was provided free of charge from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I am going to jump right into this review without much lead up because I have things on my brain that need to come out. I am not at all crazy about Asylum (the place, not the book). There were a few characters I liked, but most are shady. It was clear to me, as the reader, that this wasn't a good place to be and I think they were a bit naive going there. It could be because I watch The Walking Dead and I got the Terminus vibe (without the people eating that is). I yelled at them to turn back, but no one listened.
I disliked the way things are with Emma and Jake at the end of ASYLUM. They have been through a lot, he should be the one personal Emma should be able to count on. That is all I will say about that. Daphne is still very much a part of the group. She is definitely a bright spot in a dark world, but please for the love of god can we stop talking about her poop? Pretty please? I will say that the dialogue concerning the dog does make me laugh often, but I can only take so much potty talk.
I enjoyed ASYLUM, but I didn't grab me and hold me like book 1 did. There was a lot of what felt like down time/leading up time and a lot of meeting new characters/killing new characters going on. Which in a wasteland of a world is understandable and expected, it just didn't move along and keep my attention like INDUCTION did. Having said that, I am still very much invested in Emma and want to know what will happen next. I will be reading book 3 and I hope some of my issues with ASYLUM will work themselves out as the story continues.
* This book was provided free of charge from the author in exchange for an honest review.
renee_conoulty's review
5.0
This is the second book in Shana Festa's time of Death zombie series. It picks up where book one left off, a couple of months after the first zombie outbreak. The main character, Emma, is on the run with her family, fighting for survival.
I really like Emma - she is upbeat and tries to stay positive in the face of the world falling apart, the horror she has seen and the gruesome things she has had to do. She can also be snarky, humourous and throw a tantrum. She is devoted to her dog, Daphne, and has so far managed to keep her safe too. Shana, if you're reading this, don't you dare kill off Daphne!
I was more emotionally drawn into this book, even getting choked up a bit over one of the character's deaths. If I can care that much about a character who wasn't even in the first book, then that says good writing to me. There were also moments where I actually laughed out loud.....Tuesday.
I received a copy of the audiobook from the author in exchange for an honest review. Sarah Tancer continued to do a great job narrating book 2.
I really like Emma - she is upbeat and tries to stay positive in the face of the world falling apart, the horror she has seen and the gruesome things she has had to do. She can also be snarky, humourous and throw a tantrum. She is devoted to her dog, Daphne, and has so far managed to keep her safe too. Shana, if you're reading this, don't you dare kill off Daphne!
I was more emotionally drawn into this book, even getting choked up a bit over one of the character's deaths. If I can care that much about a character who wasn't even in the first book, then that says good writing to me. There were also moments where I actually laughed out loud.....Tuesday.
I received a copy of the audiobook from the author in exchange for an honest review. Sarah Tancer continued to do a great job narrating book 2.
nikkisuehaight's review
5.0
This is my first zombie book and I am in love wow these books are amazing
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