Members with This Book
Most Helpful Reviews
see all reviews
Liked It “This is a truly GREAT book. I can’t say enough about Rhiannon Frater’s writing style – it just flows so effortlessly, and is an absolute pleasure to read. |
Newest Reviews
see all reviews-
“This is a truly GREAT book. I can’t say enough about Rhiannon Frater’s writing style – it just flows so effortlessly, and is an absolute pleasure to read.
Rosemary Montgomery wrote this review 2 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
The story starts tragically, with Jenni trying to come to terms with the fact that her husband and two children had turned, and being faced with what they had become. As fate would have it, another survivor who was also desperately trying to escape her own personal tragedy, heard her screaming, and went in to rescue her.
The two strangers, one strong (Katie) and the other slightly crazy (Jenni) escape, and after a few really scary encounters along the way, eventually take refuge with a group of people who were fortifying a portion of the town they lived in. This is where the story really gets interesting. They join the survivors to help with the fortifications and with the protecting of the area – for some reason I really love reading about that kind of stuff ……
As luck will have it, the town had a few really hunky single guys, and it was proven once again (lol) that even when faced with death every day, and trying desperately to prepare for the worst possible scenario, love waits patiently …….. or not so patiently for some.
The story line was so believable, it was scary. I also really enjoy the way Rhiannon builds her characters in the book – each one of her characters have their strong points and their weak points, even the heroes have their weaknesses which makes it interesting and real. It also makes it so easy to relate to them, and their daily struggle to survive.
This is a really great start to the series. I loved it. On to ‘Fighting to Survive‘”
“I loved it. At first I thought Jenni was going to be too annoying, but I enjoyed her transformation. I am eager to read the second book. I hope Juan makes it. He's my guy!”
nickaholic23 wrote this review Wednesday, October 31, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“This book won the 2008 Dead Letter Award for Best Book (Fiction). The series was originally self-published but picked up and re-released in 2011 by Tor Books.
Darlene wrote this review Wednesday, October 24, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
I have always found zombie movies to be entertaining and comical. Frater’s zombies in The First Night were anything but funny; they were terrifying!
As the story begins, we are introduced to one of our heroines, Jenni, who has managed to escape her zombie-ridden house unscathed. She discovered her husband, Lloyd, devouring the baby, and Jenni tries to flee the house with her elder son. Unfortunately, her son is not so lucky and Lloyd catches him. Jenni gapes at the front door, as her baby’s little fingers are reaching underneath trying to get to her. As she stands outside trying to comprehend what just happened, a woman in a truck honks the horn and screams at her to get in. After rescuing Jenni’s teenage step-son, who was away on a camping trip in the woods, the women manage to find a group of survivors who have built somewhat of a fortress to help keep the zombies at bay.
Frater had me biting my nails with anxiety! What was so scary about her zombies is that they were not slow like they are in the movies; they are fast, especially when they smell fresh meat. Furthermore, some of her zombies appear to be thinkers, who study the environment around them and try to solve the dilemma of how to gain access to buildings or escape confinement. The zombies in movies that walk around moaning, “Braaaains!” are not very scary, but these ones are!! I also really liked both of the female protagonists, Jenni and Katie. I love strong heroines, and these two kick butt!
I can’t remember the last time when I was this frightened while reading a book! This is a must read for zombie fans! Frater knocked my socks off, and she has turned me into a huge fan of her work and reawakened my interest in zombies! I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series! ”
“Who knew I would love a Zombie book? This trilogy is compelling and exciting. I highly recommend all 3. Make sure you start when you have lots of uninterrupted reading time, because you won't be able to put them down. ”
Kelly H wrote this review Sunday, September 23, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“This is the first book on Rhiannon Frater's zombie book trilogy "As The World Dies". And like her stand alone zombie book I fell in love with all the characters while reading this. Katie and Jenni are such strong heroines one will surely never forget.”
Raine wrote this review Sunday, July 29, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“
Kat wrote this review Wednesday, July 4, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
There are very few female writers of the zombie sub-genre and Rhiannon Frater is probably one of the best-loved - and rightly so. With an ability to write perfectly towards her target audience, and create stories that are enjoyable and accessible to any reader, The First Days is one of the best female-protagonist zombie books I have ever read.
Starting with one of the most disturbing opening scenes of any zombie tale, and screaming through the zomb-apocalypse at a fast pace, whilst developing characters in a way that defies any reader not to care for them, The First Days is a book not easily forgotten.
Katie and Jenni are the perfect girl-power partnership - both vulnerable in their own ways, with baggage that sometimes impairs their ability to see situations as they really are, but their friendship is strong, despite the extreme circumstances under which it was rapidly formed. Katie is outwardly strong but inwardly vulnerable, and Jenni is an open book - fluctuating between despair and euphoria, both of which are completely plausible reactions to the world pretty much imploding in front of their eyes.
As well as Katie and Jenni, the secondary characters are also extremely well fleshed-out, from the ex-Israeli sniper to the swarthy, smart-mouthed construction worker, and all the others in between. The action scenes are very well written, and there's no pages and pages of weapons discussion - its revolvers and rifles, shovels and spikes. Lengthy descriptions of weapons is something I tend to zone out of, so it's another big tick for The First Days that things are kept simplistic.
I did read The First Days just after it was first re-released by Tor, but it was just as good the second time around - I can't wait to read the rest of the series!”
“The First Days sucked me in with the very first chapter ~ because 'Lloyd always did have a big appetite.'. OMG! I won't spoil for you what that means, I will just tell you that it is some sick-nasty-brutal-zombieness. Rhiannon Frater does an excellent job of creating a world gone to hell via the reanimated dead. It's scary good with a couple of chicks to guide your way through the torrent of horror.
Ali (Ginger-Read) wrote this review Monday, June 25, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Katie is smart but a bit reluctant to accept what the world has become and where she fits into in it. She forms a couple instant bonds with other characters. Usually, I have a problem with relationships that go from stranger to life-line in a matter of pages. It never feels genuine to me. Katie and Jenni's relationship totally worked for me though.
Jenni is your typical housewife gone zombie-killer. It takes her no time to figure out her role in the world and embrace it. I loved Jenni! She's who I would hope to be, you know, if ever attacked by ghouls. Hand that girl a gun and she's ready to mow down anything in her way. A little crazy? Yes. Effective? Most definitely.
My favorite character of all? Well, besides the hordes of zombies.... Juan. He is capable and a smart ass. Which I like in my fictitious men, thank you very much!! He was pure fun and I giggled to myself several times while reading, because of him.
The characters are all pretty well developed which says a lot, considering there are numerous in this book. Think Walking Dead. Plenty of people for her to kill off in later books??? Eeep! I hope not, because I really enjoyed them. ”
“I liked this book. I am a zombie fan, and I liked that the main characters were women. You don't see that as much in zombie stories BUT the writing needs work! I am hesitant to read the next installment because of that. ”
Allison J wrote this review Saturday, May 12, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Admittedly, one consequence of being such a ZA-phile (lover of zombie apocalypse stories) is that I've become jaded about ZA books--because I read nearly everything dealing with zombies and zombie survival. I'm from the Romero generation--the one who knows way too much about the varying (and sometimes competing) zombie mythologies.
Kelly A wrote this review Monday, May 7, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
So when a ZA book actually mesmerizes me, even frightens me, I know it's special. And this one is special.
The opening starts like the new generation of zombies: fast, furious, and fracking frightening. From the start, this book bites, tears, and devours. Then, similar to most ZA stories, the plot slows, even lumbers toward the middle and end. But I kept reading...and I suspect you will too!
It's not that the author adds anything new to the ZA mythos; but she does a fine job of offering some finely textured women and a fairly subtle critique of our notions about love, sexuality, gender, and marriage. Let's face it: if the dead started chasing us around, arguments about who had the right to love whom would seem a bit pointless.
Throughout my youth, as I read every apocalyptic novel I could get hold of, I longed for complex female characters who could be simultaneously heroic, flawed, and vulnerable. Where was this series when I was young and yearned for kick-butt characters (male & female) in a ravaged world. Well, it's here now. Get it. Read it. Enjoy it. ”
“ Lady Zombie Journal Review
Lady Book Voodoo & Hoodoo Reviews wrote this review Monday, May 14, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Where do I start you guys this book has me talking about it to everyone I see. First of all those of you that already are familiar with my blogging ,then should already know my thoughts on the author Rhiannon Frater. She is phenomenally awesome . She knows how to write a horror novel that will keep you stuck from page Uno (1) !! All seriousness',
The First Day’s By Rhiannon Frater
Story starts out with this poor girl, her name is Jennie. Jennie has a hell of a morning . Standing at her front door it’s a march morning . Staring at these little fingers clawing threw the bottom edge of the front door,from the inside. Scrapping and just scraping themselves raw,trying to reach her! Banging coming from all angles inside her home. From her dead husband and kids hungry for her flesh .She awoke to an zombocalype Nightmare!! Poor Jennie marriage from Hell was already rocking on the rocks. That this poor girl awoke to her abusive husband snacking on her son. As you can only in vision from there the true horror from that point. At that point and I'm skipping area’s so I don’t contain much of spoiler. She is then rescued by a soon to be bestie named Katie ,who her self was rescued and happen to gain a truck out of it. From this nightmare in Texas on’, these girls are filled with pure fear and horror in there lives now. Now they have to figure out what to do from there,on. Can’t head towards downtown, because everyone knows the population is much greater in the city. Which only means more walking dead. Read this novel if your in the mood for an awesome zombie tale . This is it, this book really keeps you up late,heart pumping and emotions rolling. I give Rhiannon Frater 6 stars fir this emotionally charged horror! Truly terrifying thought of a reality. . .
Read More At: http://zombiegirlreveiw.blogspot.com/”
