Originally Reviewed At: Mother/Gamer/Writer
Rating: 4 out of 5 Controllers
Review Source: Blog Tour
Reviewer: CrayolaKym


This book is the second book in the Evolutionary War series between two warring species; the Vampires and the mutated Vaempire’s. This book stayed faithful to the first starting and ending with action, action, and more action. This book was definitely more hack and slash than usual and I felt the story line was muted because of the constant fight scenes with the boys, who again, are just too young even if vampire, to maintain a strong heroic visual for me. However, I do love me some mindless hack and slash, blow flowing action sequences at times as a nice refresher to many of the female writers who often soften the scenes. I would in fact compare Winship’s usage of action to the writings of Laurell K. Hamilton, a writer who doesn’t hold back, who writes exactly what she is feeling, and knows that her typical readers will love it.

In book 2, Vielyn, leader of the Vaempires is out to destroy the world and is searching for atomic weapons to do so. The city has all but become a ghost town as the vampires flee for safety and most of their loved ones have been slain. Linq and Ray are on a mission to reach Cassandra and Daniel at the Castle before it is too late and something bad happens to her also. The story thickens as they enter one of the Castle yards and a faint heart beat can be heard. Upon further investigation the boys notice it belongs to a frail girl. They debate over killing her then get distracted. Before they know it all hell breaks loose again and all of the dead Vaempires that were just lying cold at their feet are being reanimated into zombies. With Ray still weakened from an earlier fight and all of the synth blood depleted, will the boys make it to the Princess and Daniel before it’s too late?

While I thought this book was even better than the first, I felt the ending left me hanging and I was expecting more. And why would Cassandra return to her room for what seems like hours, when she knows that Vielyn is looking for her? We know from the first book she is not stupid, so this turn of sequence shocked me. I highly recommend if you are going to read the first book to just go ahead and pick up this book also as you really won’t be let down at all. ( )

*This is a review of an ARC received from the author for an honest review.

Vaempres: Zombie Rising is a great continuation of book 1 of the Evolutionary War series, Vaempires: Revolution. In that book, we follow Daniel the newly appointed acting-leader of the Vampires kingdom after a worldwide revolt by the Vaempires. He’s racing across the city of Orion in search of his friends and Princess Cassandra. Zombie Rising takes on the less seen view-point of Daniel’s best friends Linq and Ray.

For a majority of this novella the reader follow alongside Linq and Ray as they make their way toward their friend’s Daniel and Cassie who were last known to be at the royal palace. Along the way there is a large amount of action while the two teenage vampires battle occasional Vaempires. This was a welcomed element carrying over from Book 1. I loved the action, the fast paced reading, and was pleased to know I could fly through this one and not want to put it down.

Aside from straight up action, this novella has some slower paced moments, as well. I didn’t mind them at all. When following Daniel, the almost non-stop action fit his character’s personality of always moving forward toward the goal. When reading about Linq and Ray, there’s a slightly different feel. There’s more planning involved. There’s also a little less rush to get to the Palace due to slight lack of urgency.

It was also great meeting up with Cassie again briefly. The reader is able to see just how much of a bad a** she is and how quick thinking she is. All of the characters in Winship’s books have been great to get to know, not just Cassie.

With the surprises that occurred at the ending of this novella, even if this sounds obvious from the 5 star rating, I can’t wait for the next installment. All I’ll allow myself to say about it is that I hope Thomas Winship is working on whatever title comes next….right now. I need to keep reading about the Evolutionary War. ( )