Jason Brant
Author of Ash
About the Author
Image credit: Jason Brant grew up in the mountains of western Pennsylvania where he eventually graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. After spending more than half a decade working as a Digital Forensics Analyst contractor for the Department of Defense, Jason prefers to spend his time writing and watching movies. As a Steelers fan living outside of Baltimore, Jason and his wife Erin spend most of their days dodging flying cans of National Bohemian Beer being thrown at them by Ravens fans.
Series
Works by Jason Brant
Weight: Weight Loss Motivation 2 copies
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- male
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Reviews
Fresh off my Vietnam fictional-autobiography [b:The Things They Carried|133518|The Things They Carried|Tim O'Brien|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1424663847s/133518.jpg|1235619] and Pulitzer Prize winner [b:Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City|25852784|Evicted Poverty and Profit in the American City|Matthew Desmond|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1453060710s/25852784.jpg|45720714], I really needed to rest my brain. Actually--let's be honest--I really needed to see humanity show more destroyed a little faster than we seem to be doing it ourselves. Brant--and I might turn into a genuine fan of this non-genuine Bigfoot hunter--serves up almost exactly what I was looking for in an apocalypse-monster novel. For all you who wanted to like [b:The Passage|6690798|The Passage (The Passage, #1)|Justin Cronin|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1327874267s/6690798.jpg|2802546] and didn't, I'd strongly suggest this little action-fest. Competently written (and I'm not damning it with faint praise), I just could not put it down.
We're set up with a character who is having a bit of a life-crisis but ends up discovering his personal strengths in an external one. He's ill-prepared in physical skill sets but not in mental ones, once he overcomes self-doubt. I thought the characters all behaved rather realistically, from initial rationalization of the 'illness' to depression to to attempting to strategize through the disaster, albeit somewhat ineffectively (of course). Focus is tightly on Lance, with important secondary characters. I appreciated that Lance did not overly demonize his soon-to-be-ex-wife, often a tempting crutch to make a character seem more likeable.
Although it goes quickly, the story allows for information-sharing through television and social media, giving the chance to witness some of the societal breakdown as systems and their back-ups gradually fail. I always wish this part was longer in survival stories, but Brant gives me more than many books. Plotting was tension-filled, feeling a great deal like a survival video game. Immediate conflict, re-group/strategize, next conflict. There's a part near the end that sounded scarily prescient with some people's political response to the virus. I found it almost impossible to stop reading.
Beginning paragraph:
"The tie around Lance's neck might as well have been a noose.
Yet another job interview went horribly as his career circled the drain. He looped a finger over the knot by his throat and pulled it down, letting out a long, depressed sigh. Fourteen years of hard work, certifications, and experience meant nothing anymore."
What fun foreshadowing! Not only true for Lance's own life, but about to be true for the world.
I have perhaps only two quibbles. One, overall conflict escalated quickly. I don't mind the escalation in terms of human destruction scenario, but in terms of the monster scenario, it straddles the line between believability and pure fiction. I'm a little ambivalent about that, because then I feel the story loses its chance to explore the breakdown, and not head straight into survivalist territory. Two, (mild mid-book character spoiler)a female character that comes along is just about perfect, not in the stereotypical kind of way, but in the everything-I-need kind of way. She's Xena, Warrior Princess. But what the hell--I kind of enjoy a good warrior princess.
Dialogue was solid, although I did eyeroll a couple of times at the flirtation-type banter. I suppose it provides some humor. There is a little bit of humor edging into description which I appreciated. Certainly not enough to distract from the seriousness of the situation. "He considered breaking in to his neighbors’ apartments to scrounge for food, but he feared some of them might be hiding inside, armed with shotguns. Getting shot was low on Lance’s list of priorities."
This was a freebie at Amazon when I picked it up. No worries, though--unlike the last self-pub apocalypse I picked up ([b:L.A. Dark|18045303|L.A. Dark (Jeremy's Run, #1)|G.F. Gustav|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1372366262s/18045303.jpg|25324085]), this one had adequate closure, much like an arc in a television series. That said, the reader will undoubtedly want to go on to the next book. I certainly did. I just won't start it tonight, because I need to sleep sometime and I have doubts about putting it down.
This is a straight-forward apocalypse, solidly written with no literary pretensions involved (as opposed to [b:The Reapers are the Angels|8051458|The Reapers are the Angels (Reapers, #1)|Alden Bell|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1388716938s/8051458.jpg|12707063], [b:The Girl with All the Gifts|17235026|The Girl with All the Gifts|M.R. Carey|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1403033579s/17235026.jpg|23753235] or [b:Station Eleven|20170404|Station Eleven|Emily St. John Mandel|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1451446835s/20170404.jpg|28098716]). Reminding me a little of Rhiannon Frater's As the World Dies series, I found it much better written. Recommend for people who want an apocalypse-monster fix with likeable heroes and grip-your-seat pacing.
Solid four genre stars show less
We're set up with a character who is having a bit of a life-crisis but ends up discovering his personal strengths in an external one. He's ill-prepared in physical skill sets but not in mental ones, once he overcomes self-doubt. I thought the characters all behaved rather realistically, from initial rationalization of the 'illness' to depression to to attempting to strategize through the disaster, albeit somewhat ineffectively (of course). Focus is tightly on Lance, with important secondary characters. I appreciated that Lance did not overly demonize his soon-to-be-ex-wife, often a tempting crutch to make a character seem more likeable.
Although it goes quickly, the story allows for information-sharing through television and social media, giving the chance to witness some of the societal breakdown as systems and their back-ups gradually fail. I always wish this part was longer in survival stories, but Brant gives me more than many books. Plotting was tension-filled, feeling a great deal like a survival video game. Immediate conflict, re-group/strategize, next conflict. There's a part near the end that sounded scarily prescient with some people's political response to the virus. I found it almost impossible to stop reading.
Beginning paragraph:
"The tie around Lance's neck might as well have been a noose.
Yet another job interview went horribly as his career circled the drain. He looped a finger over the knot by his throat and pulled it down, letting out a long, depressed sigh. Fourteen years of hard work, certifications, and experience meant nothing anymore."
What fun foreshadowing! Not only true for Lance's own life, but about to be true for the world.
I have perhaps only two quibbles. One, overall conflict escalated quickly. I don't mind the escalation in terms of human destruction scenario, but in terms of the monster scenario, it straddles the line between believability and pure fiction. I'm a little ambivalent about that, because then I feel the story loses its chance to explore the breakdown, and not head straight into survivalist territory. Two, (mild mid-book character spoiler)
Dialogue was solid, although I did eyeroll a couple of times at the flirtation-type banter. I suppose it provides some humor. There is a little bit of humor edging into description which I appreciated. Certainly not enough to distract from the seriousness of the situation. "He considered breaking in to his neighbors’ apartments to scrounge for food, but he feared some of them might be hiding inside, armed with shotguns. Getting shot was low on Lance’s list of priorities."
This was a freebie at Amazon when I picked it up. No worries, though--unlike the last self-pub apocalypse I picked up ([b:L.A. Dark|18045303|L.A. Dark (Jeremy's Run, #1)|G.F. Gustav|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1372366262s/18045303.jpg|25324085]), this one had adequate closure, much like an arc in a television series. That said, the reader will undoubtedly want to go on to the next book. I certainly did. I just won't start it tonight, because I need to sleep sometime and I have doubts about putting it down.
This is a straight-forward apocalypse, solidly written with no literary pretensions involved (as opposed to [b:The Reapers are the Angels|8051458|The Reapers are the Angels (Reapers, #1)|Alden Bell|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1388716938s/8051458.jpg|12707063], [b:The Girl with All the Gifts|17235026|The Girl with All the Gifts|M.R. Carey|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1403033579s/17235026.jpg|23753235] or [b:Station Eleven|20170404|Station Eleven|Emily St. John Mandel|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1451446835s/20170404.jpg|28098716]). Reminding me a little of Rhiannon Frater's As the World Dies series, I found it much better written. Recommend for people who want an apocalypse-monster fix with likeable heroes and grip-your-seat pacing.
Solid four genre stars show less
The protagonist, Ash Benson, a former soldier during the Iraq war - he was severely injured after driving over an IED. After months of recovery, he discovered that he could read other people's minds. It is unfortunate that he wasn't able to control the bombarding thoughts and turned to alcohol to deaden the nerves. This was his way of life for five years.
People in passing thought he was a homeless person in dire straits. He did have a small apartment, but his monthly disability payment was show more only enough to pay the rent and keep him drunk every night during the month. His mistake was walking into a bank during a hold up. He was a hero in hiding that was pursued by many.
Later that day, Ash is kidnapped by an American agency and recruited to find a monster with telekinetic powers that could force people to do things they didn't want to do. Hence, begins an episode of the X-Men. The story, itself, is okay as both parties seek one another, leaving dead bodies in their wake. We later learn why Murdock seeks revenge and how he escaped from his captors.
The scenes at the mall in DC were too over the top. I kept asking myself that since Murdock could only control people within a certain radius, then why didn't somebody take him out with a sniper rifle instead of trying to sneak up on him and shoot him with a pistol.
If you like a story where people turn on one another, dead bodies galore, snarky one-liners from the lead character, characters cussing like a drunken sailors that ends with readers scratching their heads - wondering if they missed the ending of the story...then this story is definitely for you. I will not be reading another book in this series. show less
People in passing thought he was a homeless person in dire straits. He did have a small apartment, but his monthly disability payment was show more only enough to pay the rent and keep him drunk every night during the month. His mistake was walking into a bank during a hold up. He was a hero in hiding that was pursued by many.
Later that day, Ash is kidnapped by an American agency and recruited to find a monster with telekinetic powers that could force people to do things they didn't want to do. Hence, begins an episode of the X-Men. The story, itself, is okay as both parties seek one another, leaving dead bodies in their wake. We later learn why Murdock seeks revenge and how he escaped from his captors.
The scenes at the mall in DC were too over the top. I kept asking myself that since Murdock could only control people within a certain radius, then why didn't somebody take him out with a sniper rifle instead of trying to sneak up on him and shoot him with a pistol.
If you like a story where people turn on one another, dead bodies galore, snarky one-liners from the lead character, characters cussing like a drunken sailors that ends with readers scratching their heads - wondering if they missed the ending of the story...then this story is definitely for you. I will not be reading another book in this series. show less
This Book Consumed Every Free Moment I Had
Wow, after reading this book I just have one word to describe it: HolyFreakingAmazingBatmanBalls.
Seriously, this book rocks and I had such an amazing time reading it. It's earned Jason Brant his own folder on my Kindle because I plan to snatch up the rest of his books as fast as I can. I really try hard to make myself wait a day before posting a review that way the story has enough time to sink in but I couldn't wait for tomorrow so I've just show more decided to throw caution to the wind and write the review now.
What I love about this book:
1. Awesome mutant zombies or Vladdies as they're called in the book. Get it Vladdies as in Vlad The Impaler! They're mean, super strong, fast and are like these giant zombie gorilla flesh eating vampire monsters. I know it sounds odd but trust me it's very cool and totally works. These things are mean. You know how you get when someone disturbs you when you're in the middle of a great book? Yeah, they're that kind of mean.
2. Awesome Characters that you can relate to: There are so many great characters. Lance is not your ordinary hero. In fact he was a bit of a loser before the mutant zombie gorilla apocalypse happened. Okay they're not really gorillas but their knuckles do drag the ground at times so they're getting called gorilla's by me. Where was I? Oh yeah Lance, he's just your average guy. He was down on his luck, couldn't hold a job, his wife hates him and he doesn't have a lot of confidence anymore. But once all hell breaks loose he's exactly the kind of person you would want on your side. He's a great guy. He's not super strong nor really fit or anything and he's not a very good fighter but he does his best and cares about people which is something I can totally relate to and once Cass entered the picture his confidence shot through the roof. He might not be the best zombie killer out there but he is the best kind of person to have as a friend during the apocalypse.
Doc Brown (Gonna go back in time) is a great character too. I love how can just take charge and gain control of a situation. He thinks about everyone along with every situations from all angles. He also happens to be one of the last doctors left in the US if not the world.
Eifort who is ex-military (since there is no more military, at least not around these parts) is a wonderful character too. She's small but deadly with a rifle. All of the characters have an incredible amount of depth to them especially considering how action packed these books are. They're an unlikely group of heroes who have become family to each other (and to me) in such a short amount of time. I simultaneously look forward to and dread the next books. I can't wait to read them but I don't want to lose any of these characters. I care about them too much which is just a testament to Jason Brant's skill as a writer.
3. Cass: Yes I know she should be covered under Awesome Characters but she's just so awesome that she gets her own number. I love the fact that the main badass of the tale is a woman. She's in shape, has a giant medieval battle axe (how cool is that?), can use a bow and arrow and dresses like a weird prostitute with a Mohawk. Hey who cares about fashion, it's the end of the world. Social conventions no longer have any meaning. Time and time again she saves Lance or as she likes to call him: "dumbass". I love their interactions. I love how she seems to bring out the best in him and even though I think she should have chosen me over Lance I still really dig her character. I mean I wasn't even really in the book so I can't blame her for that. Besides Lance is pretty cool. He does end up saving her quite often too, well maybe not as much as she saves him but you get the idea. They're really good together and the two of them are the heart and soul of this series.
4. Lots and lots of action. The book is action packed. If there was anymore action in this book then .... well I can't really come up with a good line for this one but you can imagine if I did. it would have been awesome.
5. Great Book Covers: These book covers rock. The art work is just amazing.
6. Stupendously Spectacular Suspenseful Storyline: (Hey, I was going to throw sequel in there too so you got off lucky) The story-line is nothing short of incredible. I'm all about the little things in a storyline. Most of my favorite scenes in books aren't the big action sequences or the big reveal or the big moments but the little things. I love it when a good author does those little things well. A great author can turn anything into a plot device. A shower, having a meal, a friendly conversation by the fire, etc. Jason Brant not only does the little things very well but he manages to wrap them around the action so that the big things and the little things are all linked into one big smorgasbord of awesomeness. (I'm really big on that word)
Things I disliked about this book!
1. It Ended: I want to keep reading this forever. Why did it have to end?
2. Cass chose Lance over me: Hopefully I'll be in the next book and she'll make the right decision :)
3. Uhm, that's it: Oh yeah, I didn't like Ralph. I really hated his character. I really hope they get him in this book (I can't tell you if they did, that would ruin it). But I guess that's not really a dislike since he's the badguy. So I guess I like Ralph. Now I'm very confused!
This series became an instant favorite of mine. I cannot wait to read the next one and it never ceases to amaze me how Jason Brant was able to write about a zombie apocalypse which let's face it has been done a billion times and make it feel so completely new and unique. I cannot recommend this series enough. It's one heck of a ride and I think this book will pretty much appeal to anyone who likes good dialogue, plenty of action while still having a great deal of depth to the characters, lots of fun and funny moments and lastly but most importantly Cass. Really, she's something else. Plus if all of that isn't enough to entice you then Jason Brant included the short story Lotion as an added bonus which is a hilarious tale of post-apocalyptic proportions. He wrote it and it was published in an anthology a while back and several people contacted him asking if he could expand the world and write some more books and he decided to do just that. The rest is pure awesome reading goodness. show less
Wow, after reading this book I just have one word to describe it: HolyFreakingAmazingBatmanBalls.
Seriously, this book rocks and I had such an amazing time reading it. It's earned Jason Brant his own folder on my Kindle because I plan to snatch up the rest of his books as fast as I can. I really try hard to make myself wait a day before posting a review that way the story has enough time to sink in but I couldn't wait for tomorrow so I've just show more decided to throw caution to the wind and write the review now.
What I love about this book:
1. Awesome mutant zombies or Vladdies as they're called in the book. Get it Vladdies as in Vlad The Impaler! They're mean, super strong, fast and are like these giant zombie gorilla flesh eating vampire monsters. I know it sounds odd but trust me it's very cool and totally works. These things are mean. You know how you get when someone disturbs you when you're in the middle of a great book? Yeah, they're that kind of mean.
2. Awesome Characters that you can relate to: There are so many great characters. Lance is not your ordinary hero. In fact he was a bit of a loser before the mutant zombie gorilla apocalypse happened. Okay they're not really gorillas but their knuckles do drag the ground at times so they're getting called gorilla's by me. Where was I? Oh yeah Lance, he's just your average guy. He was down on his luck, couldn't hold a job, his wife hates him and he doesn't have a lot of confidence anymore. But once all hell breaks loose he's exactly the kind of person you would want on your side. He's a great guy. He's not super strong nor really fit or anything and he's not a very good fighter but he does his best and cares about people which is something I can totally relate to and once Cass entered the picture his confidence shot through the roof. He might not be the best zombie killer out there but he is the best kind of person to have as a friend during the apocalypse.
Doc Brown (Gonna go back in time) is a great character too. I love how can just take charge and gain control of a situation. He thinks about everyone along with every situations from all angles. He also happens to be one of the last doctors left in the US if not the world.
Eifort who is ex-military (since there is no more military, at least not around these parts) is a wonderful character too. She's small but deadly with a rifle. All of the characters have an incredible amount of depth to them especially considering how action packed these books are. They're an unlikely group of heroes who have become family to each other (and to me) in such a short amount of time. I simultaneously look forward to and dread the next books. I can't wait to read them but I don't want to lose any of these characters. I care about them too much which is just a testament to Jason Brant's skill as a writer.
3. Cass: Yes I know she should be covered under Awesome Characters but she's just so awesome that she gets her own number. I love the fact that the main badass of the tale is a woman. She's in shape, has a giant medieval battle axe (how cool is that?), can use a bow and arrow and dresses like a weird prostitute with a Mohawk. Hey who cares about fashion, it's the end of the world. Social conventions no longer have any meaning. Time and time again she saves Lance or as she likes to call him: "dumbass". I love their interactions. I love how she seems to bring out the best in him and even though I think she should have chosen me over Lance I still really dig her character. I mean I wasn't even really in the book so I can't blame her for that. Besides Lance is pretty cool. He does end up saving her quite often too, well maybe not as much as she saves him but you get the idea. They're really good together and the two of them are the heart and soul of this series.
4. Lots and lots of action. The book is action packed. If there was anymore action in this book then .... well I can't really come up with a good line for this one but you can imagine if I did. it would have been awesome.
5. Great Book Covers: These book covers rock. The art work is just amazing.
6. Stupendously Spectacular Suspenseful Storyline: (Hey, I was going to throw sequel in there too so you got off lucky) The story-line is nothing short of incredible. I'm all about the little things in a storyline. Most of my favorite scenes in books aren't the big action sequences or the big reveal or the big moments but the little things. I love it when a good author does those little things well. A great author can turn anything into a plot device. A shower, having a meal, a friendly conversation by the fire, etc. Jason Brant not only does the little things very well but he manages to wrap them around the action so that the big things and the little things are all linked into one big smorgasbord of awesomeness. (I'm really big on that word)
Things I disliked about this book!
1. It Ended: I want to keep reading this forever. Why did it have to end?
2. Cass chose Lance over me: Hopefully I'll be in the next book and she'll make the right decision :)
3. Uhm, that's it: Oh yeah, I didn't like Ralph. I really hated his character. I really hope they get him in this book (I can't tell you if they did, that would ruin it). But I guess that's not really a dislike since he's the badguy. So I guess I like Ralph. Now I'm very confused!
This series became an instant favorite of mine. I cannot wait to read the next one and it never ceases to amaze me how Jason Brant was able to write about a zombie apocalypse which let's face it has been done a billion times and make it feel so completely new and unique. I cannot recommend this series enough. It's one heck of a ride and I think this book will pretty much appeal to anyone who likes good dialogue, plenty of action while still having a great deal of depth to the characters, lots of fun and funny moments and lastly but most importantly Cass. Really, she's something else. Plus if all of that isn't enough to entice you then Jason Brant included the short story Lotion as an added bonus which is a hilarious tale of post-apocalyptic proportions. He wrote it and it was published in an anthology a while back and several people contacted him asking if he could expand the world and write some more books and he decided to do just that. The rest is pure awesome reading goodness. show less
I just now finished reading Ravaged (The Hunger #3) which is the third and final book in the The Hunger and I was simply blown away. I think I'm coming down with the flu, my throat is sore, my nose wont quit running, my heads pounding and I feel miserable but none of that mattered. I could not put this book down today. At around the 78% mark I noticed something very odd, my pulse was literally pounding, not from being sick or anything but from sheer excitement as the plot was nearing it's show more incredible conclusion. I could take my pulse just by touching my neck with one finger, hehe. I was on the edge of my seat through most of the book and the suspense was just killing me. I've said this on every single book review I've done of Jason Brant's books but it's always true. This author doesn't mess around. His stories don't beat around the bush, they just start out with one big bang and the explosions never stop. You just ride the shock-waves all the way until the very end. It just doesn't get any better than this. Ravaged had more than enough suspense, action and well rounded characters that you grow to love more and more with each passing book plus the pacing was beyond perfect. This series from start to finish was just a pleasure to read and one I have no doubt I'll be rereading many times in the future.
After the end of Consumed our heroes barely survived their encounter with the madman militant-psycho Ralph and ended up taking over his camp and now in Ravaged they're trying to keep everyone alive and survive the best they can. So far the lights have kept the Vladdies at bay but somethings happening, things are changing in the world and once again they find themselves fighting for their very lives. Will Lance and Cass ever find a bit of peace and a safe place to bring their child into the world? Will people ever stop making fun of Doc Emmett Brown's name? Will Greg ever stop saying Bro? Well great news! All of those questions and more will be answered in Ravaged.
I am so sad to see this series end. I've really grown attached to all of the characters especially Lance and Cass. I enjoyed watching Lance's evolution as he went from a depressed, self-loathing loser who couldn't hold down a job nor keep his marriage together to the hero he eventually became. All of the bad things in his life began to change the second he met Cass and he quickly became someone I liked and admired. Cass also had a very nice evolution even though it was a little more subtle than Lance's. Slowly she started becoming softer and started showing her emotions. Yeah she was still a badass but Lance helped her to see that not all men are jerks and helped to slowly peel away those layers of the shell that she had built around herself. Together the two of them were awesome and one heck of a team. I still love their banter and loved the fact that her term for Lance which is "dumbass" sort of became a term of affection. They were perfect for each other.
I was also really glad we get to spend more time with Doc Brown and Eifort on this one. I loved both characters and thought they were both interesting. Doc has always been a smart man as well as the wise leader that everyone went to for advice while Lance was just the natural sort of person that everyone looked up to because of his general good nature as well as his deeds. All four of our main heroes were instrumental in leading the group of survivors and I don't think they could have done it as well without every single one of them. You really get to see Doc and Eifort take charge and Doc Brown becomes so much more a man of action than he's previously been while Eifort who is still the best sharpshooter of the group shows her softer side. The characters were all well rounded, even the side characters. Adam along with some new additions were all extremely likable. Greg, well Greg is still a dumbass. I'm pretty sure he was dropped on his head a few dozen times as a child but really we owe ol' Greg a huge debt of gratitude because if it wasn't for the short story Lotion then Jason Brant might not have ever written this series. After he wrote the short story a lot of people sent feedback asking if he'd ever write more about this world so in a way we owe Greg everything. Doesn't that just really suck when you think bout it like that? Hahaha, I'm pretty sure Greg's response would be, "Awesome, Bro!".
I just cannot recommend this book or author enough. He's quickly become one of my favorite authors He along with another author who's books I love are the only two that I will completely drop whatever I'm doing to read. If I'm in the middle of another book then I'll just push it to the side to read one of theirs. They're just that good. I love how his books have so much action yet still have characters that you just absolutely love, characters that you can't stand the thought of losing and every time something bad happens you find yourself flipping ahead to make sure they're okay. Plus I totally love this cover. Cass looks freaking awesome with the Anarchy symbol and mohawk. Alas I've had to abandon all hope that she'd leave Lance for me. Lance is just way to awesome and I admire him too much. She's just way out of my league besides after all this time they now feel like family to me. I'd love to tell you about the end but I can't so instead I'll just say if you love a great zombie book then do yourself a favor and get this book and series. You have no idea what you're missing out on if you don't. Ravaged and the whole The Hunger series has all the classic makings of a legendary piece of zombie fiction. If they were made into movies today they would seriously be right up there with Day of the Dead and Dawn of the Dead, maybe even a bit better. They're just that good! show less
After the end of Consumed our heroes barely survived their encounter with the madman militant-psycho Ralph and ended up taking over his camp and now in Ravaged they're trying to keep everyone alive and survive the best they can. So far the lights have kept the Vladdies at bay but somethings happening, things are changing in the world and once again they find themselves fighting for their very lives. Will Lance and Cass ever find a bit of peace and a safe place to bring their child into the world? Will people ever stop making fun of Doc Emmett Brown's name? Will Greg ever stop saying Bro? Well great news! All of those questions and more will be answered in Ravaged.
I am so sad to see this series end. I've really grown attached to all of the characters especially Lance and Cass. I enjoyed watching Lance's evolution as he went from a depressed, self-loathing loser who couldn't hold down a job nor keep his marriage together to the hero he eventually became. All of the bad things in his life began to change the second he met Cass and he quickly became someone I liked and admired. Cass also had a very nice evolution even though it was a little more subtle than Lance's. Slowly she started becoming softer and started showing her emotions. Yeah she was still a badass but Lance helped her to see that not all men are jerks and helped to slowly peel away those layers of the shell that she had built around herself. Together the two of them were awesome and one heck of a team. I still love their banter and loved the fact that her term for Lance which is "dumbass" sort of became a term of affection. They were perfect for each other.
I was also really glad we get to spend more time with Doc Brown and Eifort on this one. I loved both characters and thought they were both interesting. Doc has always been a smart man as well as the wise leader that everyone went to for advice while Lance was just the natural sort of person that everyone looked up to because of his general good nature as well as his deeds. All four of our main heroes were instrumental in leading the group of survivors and I don't think they could have done it as well without every single one of them. You really get to see Doc and Eifort take charge and Doc Brown becomes so much more a man of action than he's previously been while Eifort who is still the best sharpshooter of the group shows her softer side. The characters were all well rounded, even the side characters. Adam along with some new additions were all extremely likable. Greg, well Greg is still a dumbass. I'm pretty sure he was dropped on his head a few dozen times as a child but really we owe ol' Greg a huge debt of gratitude because if it wasn't for the short story Lotion then Jason Brant might not have ever written this series. After he wrote the short story a lot of people sent feedback asking if he'd ever write more about this world so in a way we owe Greg everything. Doesn't that just really suck when you think bout it like that? Hahaha, I'm pretty sure Greg's response would be, "Awesome, Bro!".
I just cannot recommend this book or author enough. He's quickly become one of my favorite authors He along with another author who's books I love are the only two that I will completely drop whatever I'm doing to read. If I'm in the middle of another book then I'll just push it to the side to read one of theirs. They're just that good. I love how his books have so much action yet still have characters that you just absolutely love, characters that you can't stand the thought of losing and every time something bad happens you find yourself flipping ahead to make sure they're okay. Plus I totally love this cover. Cass looks freaking awesome with the Anarchy symbol and mohawk. Alas I've had to abandon all hope that she'd leave Lance for me. Lance is just way to awesome and I admire him too much. She's just way out of my league besides after all this time they now feel like family to me. I'd love to tell you about the end but I can't so instead I'll just say if you love a great zombie book then do yourself a favor and get this book and series. You have no idea what you're missing out on if you don't. Ravaged and the whole The Hunger series has all the classic makings of a legendary piece of zombie fiction. If they were made into movies today they would seriously be right up there with Day of the Dead and Dawn of the Dead, maybe even a bit better. They're just that good! show less
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