Chris Philbrook

To say that I am totally blown away by this series almost seems like an under statement. But that is a true statement. The writing is amazingly real. You totally feel as if the diary happened. I find myself highlighting stuff thinking, if something weird happens I will need to remember this. The books are a font of knowledge as well as entertaining reading. I love how the author puts just a few months into each book. You start out thinking this is going to be easy breezy because it covers so show more little time. The reality is it feels a lot longer because even when nothing is going down, something is. When you finish each book you are drained. You have been dragged through the undead. Even then, though, you are all about the next book. I am so happy I came across this series after the first 5 books are done. Waiting for the next book is not an option. I have no idea how early readers made the wait.
I love Zbooks but the reality of it is there are a plethora of them. Not all are well written either and some just too absurd for my taste. It seems as though it is getting harder to find ones I would truly recommend, especially to hardcore Zreaders. This series is one I have been calling up people to tell them to get. I borrowed the first one through Amazon Prime. I just wasn't certain I wanted to invest. I was a fourth of the way in and I knew I would buy them all.
There is violence, (think about it - a good zbook cannot avoid it), and sexual references, (the further in we go, the longer Adrian goes without, the more that comes. Entirely true human response I felt.), though minimal sexual action, (it is there and while realistic, not easy and not gratuitous). So if you are against reading those things, why are looking at Zbooks? Seriously, if you have issues with bad language, sex and violence zombie books are probably not going to be your thing. If you haven't read anything in the genre, are curious about zombie books and can cope with it, this series is worth reading. It is realistic but nothing is gratuitous, in my opinion.
You definitely do need to read this series in the order it was written/released. If you just jump in somewhere you really will not have the complete background. You will wind up feeling cheated and angry with yourself. So start with Book 1, this is book 3. Do not start here but go ahead and buy it. I say buy the set at once because you will go back to back. show less

I admit this is my first book with Zombies in it and not my usual genre, but I really enjoyed it. Chris Philbrook did an excellent job of bringing the characters to life...

The Wrath of the Orphans is both enchanting and captivating. Twins Malwynn and Umaryn live a peaceful simple life in the small town of New Picknell, until one day their world is flipped on its axis. When everything they love is snatched away from them they are left with little option but to wither away to nothing or seek show more vengeance to give their lives purpose. What follows is a journey of justice, determination and will as they track down those who harmed the ones they loved.

Philbrook is an amazing world creator. The dark world full of magic and The Way jumps off the pages. The characters both good and sinister are enticing. The Wrath of the Orphans is a page turner as more details of the story unfold to leave clues as to who was accountable for the fatal day in New Picknell. You'll meet Ivar the grave undead warrior who wishes to protect his family from beyond the grave and who can take down living warriors like a spider devours flies; Dram, who is mysterious and just may or may not be trustworthy; and a host of other interesting characters as Malwynn and Umaryn progress on their journey. It's a fascinating story of the undead, a nation captured under a mysterious Queen, and the motivations of the living who have nothing left to lose.

I can't wait to read the next book in this series! show less

Journal-entry type books are always iffy. Sometimes they work, other times they fail. Miserably. This one scored big for me. It helps that Adrian is a likeable guy. I WANTED him to succeed.

One technique that really helped is that there are two chapters, actually short stories, of people that Adrian has mentioned crossing paths with in his Journal. These short stories give us an outside perspective of Adrian. I found it very effective in making me like Adrian, and it helped to explain why show more some other situations played out the way they did. I found their vision of Adrian was a bit different than how I had pictured him in my mind. In a good way. show less

Tesser is a shape-shifting, immortal, dragon who literally fathered all life on earth. At least he did before someone or something sent him to sleep for tens of thousands of years.

He wakes up under modern Boston to discover that man has moved from caves to condos and magic has faded from the world.

He takes on the shape of a man who makes Jack Reacher look like a weakling to explore the city and after a bizarre incident that briefly brings him fame on YouTube, ends up as a bouncer at an all show more night pizza place.

Then things start to get weird.

This was an amusing read with some original ideas on myth and magic and some good contemporary dialogue filled with colourful invective.

Sadly, it had all the depth you'd expect of a child's cartoon, was filled with cardboard evil villains and damsels who needed rescuing and had the same grasp of political reality as Donald Trump. Emotions flipped between rage and maudlin sentimentality so that I was never really engaged with the humans.

As for the dragon, Tesser - he seemed like the ultimate embodiment of the wishes of those who want the world to be led by a strong, fair-but-firm, what-I-say-goes-or-I'll-kick-your-ass immortal. I immediately wanted to find a way to send him back to sleep.

The audiobook version was well narrated by James Foster, making this a pleasant way to spend a few hours but I don't think I'll be listening to the next book in the series. show less