Inspired by Book Buzzers,
Book Girls Don’t Cry is a weekly feature where we each discuss/vent/advise on the chosen weekly bookish topic. Don’t miss Jenni on Mondays, and Amy on Saturdays:
Must Reads – For the Zombie Fans!
This week we decided to take a favorite genre or ours and do a top list. So, of course, you know me and my zombies! So if you love zombie books as much as I do maybe you’ll find some more to add to your lists, and leave me some recs in the comments, too! 🙂 FYI – these are not really in order, because that would be too hard >.<
—The Last Bastion of the Living by Rhiannon Frater—
This is definitely one of my all time favorite – not just of the genre. It’s a futuristic zombie book so it’s unique and the zombie lore is super awesome (and at an all time creepy). You are not a zombie fan until you read this one, folks! Ohmagawds it blew my mind! (
My review)
—This is Not A Test by Courtney Summers—
This book is more like a gritty contemporary (Courtney Summers and all) with zombies to intensify things. There are hardly any zombies at all in the book, but the fear of the unknown gives more than enough creepyfication in this! (
My review)
Aaah this series is so immensely intelligent, well researched, and realistic. It also has some of the best character development I’ve yet to come across. It’s in the future, decades after the zombie apocalypse, and it’s more a political thriller with zombies. In their world, they’ve learned to adapt after the zombie apocalypse, so think of it like a zombiefied dystopian filled with governmental controversies. (
My review)
This one has made a few appearances on the blog before I think. >.< No secret that I love this series. It’s one I recommend to everyone and anyone. It’s not about the zombies but about the characters and rebuilding a society in a world in shambles. This is the type of book that you read, and while you’re not reading (and months later) you catch yourself wondering what the characters are doing; that is character building for you (or maybe I’m insane)! (
My review)
—The Becoming by Jessica Meigs—
This is the most recent zombie book I’ve read from this list – only just a couple months ago – and it kind of reminded me of the Rhiannon books as far as how they’re character oriented and all around badass! I haven’t read the rest of the series yet though but I think I have book 2 schedule for review this summer (finallyz!). (My review)
—Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel—
Ok one thing you should know, I can’t stand romanticized zombies. I mean WTF? Just, no! This is the one and only instance where I actually really enjoyed a zombie book that’s listed as a “paranormal romance”; I just love Lia’s writing style so much. (
My review)
This one will always have a special place in my heart because it was my very first zombie book, which resulted in my love of the genre. The MCs make it a hit of miss for some readers because they’re… difficult, but the last book, man, totes worth it! So intensely amazing! (
My review)
What do you think of zombie books? Love em? Hate em?
If you love em, too, drop me some recs in the comments! 🙂
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Xoxo, Book Girl!
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Canadian blogger, wife, mother, coffee lover, and sarcastic at heart! She has had a love for all things bookish since before Amazon and eReaders existed *le gasp*. You can also find her organizing tours and other fun things at
Xpresso Book Tours.
Amy
Ohh awesome list!! I still haven’t done my post. I really need to figure out what genre I am going to do lol!!
Aylee
Oh, now I’m sad because I haven’t read any of these! Does this mean I can’t consider myself a zombie fan any longer? Hmm, I should rectify this. I especially need to read the Rhiannon Frater books if you think so highly of them, as well as the Mira Grant book because I think I would appreciate the politics, and the Courtney Summers book because I would appreciate the contemporary feel. I’m curious about Dearly, Departed because I can’t imagine a romanticized zombie… could be interesting. If you’re looking for zombie book recommendations, I would recommend The End Games by T. Michael Martin! Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick was also good.
Mary @ BookSwarm
I do enjoy a good zombie story. Actually, I read The Last Bastion because of your rave-y review! And The Forest of Hands and Teeth freaked me out. I think that might have been the first zombie story I’d read…
Jenea Whittington
Great list… I love me some zombie books! I liked Dearly Departed and The Forest of hands and Teeth. I keep trying to get my oldest daughter to read them both. I want to read This is Not a Test, no such luck yet.
Annette Mills
You mustn’t leave out the Benny Imura (Mayberry) series. LOVED those!
Nick
As soon as I saw your post title, I knew Rhiannon Frater was going to be in your list. 🙂
Ugh! I think I’ve only read one book from your list. I do love zombie books, but I feel like that only few have managed to blow me away.
Books like Alice in Zombieland makes me want to stay far far away from zombie books!
Jenni @ Alluring Reads
I really need to read The Forest of Hands and Teeth series, I bought them all way back and still haven’t gotten around to picking them up. We all know how I feel about The First Days *cringes* but I totally agree with you on TINAT, that book gutted me so many times. I’d like to re-read that one day and suck in all the Summers GOodness. Great post!
Ali Ginger-Read
Great list, though I hated Dearly Departed. 🙁 I’ve seen a bunch of people who didn’t like The Forest of Hands and Teeth but I really enjoyed the whole series. I liked how different it was. Loved This is Not a Test, it’s so somber and sad but still exciting.
Siiri
I KNEW you’d write about zombies 😀 Ha. Eeeep!! I have Dearly Departed on my shelf as a paperback waiting to be read. I love the covers, I love the feedback from readers, I love the synopsis and I love that it sounds so very real. I’m glad you liked it so much since I know a lot of the times romance ruins a book for you. I really need to get on ’em zombie books *__*
Smash Attack!
Most of these books make me FLAIL. I haven’t read The Becoming or Dearly Departed, but I sure do wanna!
Bonnie R
Love me some zombies too! The Becoming is one I haven’t read yet, also The Forest of Hands and Teeth series is still on my TBR too!
Have you read The Reapers are the Angels? Or My Life As a White Trash Zombie? Or Warm Bodies? Or Married with Zombies? Shouldn’t have asked for recs. Lol I’m going to restrain myself from recommending more. 😛
Christianna Marks
I love Zombies! I need to add a few of these to my TBR list! Thanks for all of the awesome recommendations! Have you read Warm Bodies yet? It’s awesome!
Faith Sullivan
You are my zombie authority, Giselle. This list is solid gold 🙂
Alexia
I usually don’t like zombie books all that much but Dearly Departed looks decent.I may have to give that one a try.
Shooting Stars Mag
I love zombies, but I really need to find some more books to read. Some I DO want to read though like Feed (and the rest of the series) and The First Days sounds awesome.
I did read This is Not a Test; so so good. All the rave reviews got me pumped enough to go out and buy the book, and I’m so glad I didn’t wait because it really was amazing and an interesting take on “zombie fiction.”
-Lauren
Megan K.
I’ve only read two of the books you’ve listed there: This Is Not a Test and The Forest of Hands and Teeth. Both were GOOD. I also know that you adore Rhiannon Frater’s books, so I’m pretty interested to check them out! Glad we share almost the same tastes in books! 😉
Savannah Bookswithbite
YES! Team Zombies all the way! I will add these book to my tbr 🙂
Alexa Y.
I’m so glad that we can still be friends in spite of the fact that I rarely read zombie books. We totally share a love for Carrie Ryan’s The Forest of Hands and Teeth series though. I read the first one nearly two years ago, while I just read the other two early this year – and I really liked them all! Her writing is phenomenal 🙂
Lauren Elizabeth
Totally love zombies, I’ve been a fan since watching my first Romero movie and having nightmares for weeks as a kid. I also adore Carrie Ryan’s Forest of Hands & Teeth series (the last book rocked!) and Mira Grant’s Feed series. Jonathan Maberry’s Rot & Ruin series and World War Z are also awesome zombie reads. I still really want to read Dearly Departed, and I’ll have to check out the rest of your list. Great roundup!
Hell-Bent to Read
Zombie books are my number one love. I absolutely LOVE them! 6 of those 7 have been on my to-read list for months now, but Feed is the one that I have been absolutely dying to read.
I think one of my favorite zombie books is Rot & Ruin by Jonathan Maberry. It looks at zombies from the humanity standpoint, as opposed to the violence & gore aspect. With that said, though, it definitely ISN’T lacking in the violence aspect, haha.
Eileen
I think I’ve only read The Forest of Hands and Teeth out of all of the books you mentioned, but Dearly, Departed and This is Not a Test sounds SO amazing! But I really hated The Forest of Hands and Teeth because the main character was so annoying and desperate (she actually “desperately” did something so many times) but I need to read all of these titles soon they sound so creepy! Fantastic post, Giselle!
Bookluvrs Haven
Love zombies, so I love that you put this list together. Don’t think I have read a single one yet, but have most on my list! The ones that I don’t I am happy to come across and add!
Lily @ Bookluvrs Haven
Christina (Christinareadsya)
Wow, your list just reminded me of how few zombie books I’ve read. The only one on your list I read was The Forest of Hands and Teeth, which I thought was a original but a tad too slow for my tastes. The cover for Dearly, Departed caught my eye when I first started blogging, but that’s the only other one I’d heard of.
Oh, have you ever read Warm Bodies? Actually, wait, you said you don’t like romanticized zombies, so that might not work for you… hm.
Jennifer Messerschmidt
The only one i have read is Dearly, Departed. I have been meaning to read many of the other ones on your list!
Henrietta @ Leisure Reads
So far, I’ve only read The Forest of Hands and Teeth series – maybe it’s time for me to read more zombie novels – This Is Not A Test sounds amazing and so does The Last Bastion of the Living – thanks for sharing (sorry, no recs for you).
Melanie
I don’t read many zombie books. How can I tell? None of the above I have read. *braces self* I’ve been meaning to read many of those titles for ages now- especially This Is Not A Test. I just love the look of it.
Thanks for sharing, Giselle! <33
Kat Balcombe
I am so ashamed that I haven’t read Last Bastion yet! But I totally agree with This is Not a Test and The First Days.
Don’t forget to double-tap 😉
Julie
Lovely list! This is Not a Test still gives me shivers. The ending–argh it was so open ended!
Jenn Renee
I have only read a couple of these. I loved Dearly Departed, its one of my favorites for sure. I still need to get to the second book though.
Mel@Thedailyprophecy
Oh yes, this is not a test & the forest of hands and teeth are two of my favorite books/series! The forest was my first zombie book too and is therefore also special to me 🙂 It opened up my eyes for zombies! Dearly, departed & The newsflesh series are both on my reading list (and wishlist)
Kristin A.
Great List. I still have yet to read This Is Not A Test. Someday I will hopefully.
Stellar
Awesome list! I loved The Forest of Hands and Teeth. It was my first zombie book, too! I always recommend it and people come back and say is boring…I tell them that the second two books are better! 😛
Micheline D
Well, you & I both know that I am not a zombie fan *hides behind a giant boulder* BUT I did still want to see what your top picks were…I’m an odd one, I guess. If I do ever get the urge to zombify my life, I feel like I’d read the Feed series or like Dearly Departed. Oh and Forest of Hands & Teeth because I remember you recommending it to me way back in our early Goodreads days haha >.<
Kara_Malinczak
This is a really great list! I still need to read a lot of these, and you still need to read that Charlie Higson series!