Extinct by Samie Sands - Book Tour & Review + Giveaway
Extinct
AM13 Outbreak Series Book 3
by Samie Sands
Genre:
Horror
Horror
Writing books about the horrors of the zombie apocalypse is one thing—but
Georgie Blake can’t believe it has become her reality…
Georgie Blake can’t believe it has become her reality…
She never expected her fictional stories of blood, death, and the
consumption of human flesh to jump off the page into the real world.
She certainly didn’t think she’d survive this long if they had.
As a shy novelist, she was sure she’d be one of the first to die.
consumption of human flesh to jump off the page into the real world.
She certainly didn’t think she’d survive this long if they had.
As a shy novelist, she was sure she’d be one of the first to die.
Safe in the Sanctuary, Georgie holds on to hope for a cure...
But that’s not all she holds on to. The government has promised the
people of the Sanctuary that they can return home. The rumours are
rife that there is an antidote on the horizon. But even if not, the
infected are dying out, throwing the treacherous AM13 virus to the
brink of extinction. If the infection dies out, this horrible
nightmare Georgie is living in will be a distant memory.
people of the Sanctuary that they can return home. The rumours are
rife that there is an antidote on the horizon. But even if not, the
infected are dying out, throwing the treacherous AM13 virus to the
brink of extinction. If the infection dies out, this horrible
nightmare Georgie is living in will be a distant memory.
Until everything that’s right goes terribly wrong...
Soon after meeting some new friends in the Sanctuary, Georgie learns she’s
going to have to face the monsters outside the walls if she wants to
return to her old life. But for a scared, introverted bookworm, it
may be too much to consider...
going to have to face the monsters outside the walls if she wants to
return to her old life. But for a scared, introverted bookworm, it
may be too much to consider...
Will Georgina conquer her fears of the dead to return home, or will she be
one of the countless others who have gone Extinct?
one of the countless others who have gone Extinct?
**See below for my reviews of Lockdown and Forgotten, the first two books in the series**
Extinct is the third and final book in the AM13 Outbreak series. This book is told from the viewpoint of an author who happens to write zombie stories. It's all very meta. I quite enjoyed that about the story.
Georgie is currently safe on an island, along with tons of other people, that is said to be disease free. She's hopeful that a cure will be found soon, and that she'll be able to go back home soon. Unfortunately for her, things take a turn for the worse when the truth about what's really going on is revealed. Who can she trust? Can she survive? Or will the human race as we know it be wiped out completely? You'll have to read the book and see how this amazing series ends!
I really liked how this story was told from yet another character's point of view, if you will, but it still continued on from where the second book left off. The book had characters you wanted to root for. They were decent enough, and you really didn't want to see anything happen to them. Then there were characters who you were unsure about, and when their truths were revealed, you either liked them or hated them completely. And, trust me, there's one character who really fits that latter. This person is abhorrent.
The plot moves along nicely, keeping you on your toes and eager to see what might happen next. It's a pretty quick read, although not so quick that you find yourself disappointed. Everything is tied together with a nice little bow, and by the end, you'll be feeling as though you just stepped off some crazy, horrific roller coaster ride.
I've given Extinct 4.5 stars. And I would highly recommend the series to fans of zombies and horror novels. It's a really good trilogy of books.
Forgotten
AM13 Outbreak Series Book 2
Every attempt to contain the deadly AM13 virus has failed, leaving humanity
on the brink of extinction…
on the brink of extinction…
The plague is spreading out of control with no cure in sight. Then the
government announces its new plan—a sanctuary in an area completely
untouched by the infected—as long as you can get there alive and
unscathed.
government announces its new plan—a sanctuary in an area completely
untouched by the infected—as long as you can get there alive and
unscathed.
Ethan Watton has managed to survive this long, even with OCD making every
day more hellish than it already is…
day more hellish than it already is…
Ethan’s obsessive-compulsive disorder dramatically affected his life before
the infection began. Now he’s desperate to get as far away from the
zombie virus as humanly possible. Isolated and afraid, Ethan thinks
there is no way in hell he will survive the epidemic.
the infection began. Now he’s desperate to get as far away from the
zombie virus as humanly possible. Isolated and afraid, Ethan thinks
there is no way in hell he will survive the epidemic.
Alyssa Turner has spent her teenage years prepping for the undead to
challenge her zombie killing skills…
challenge her zombie killing skills…
Alyssa knows with absolute certainty that she will survive the AM13 virus.
She’s read all the books, watched all the films, and done all the
research. She’s strong, tough, and a self-proclaimed badass. Any
group would be lucky to fight alongside her…until the unthinkable
makes her doubt every skill she’s acquired.
She’s read all the books, watched all the films, and done all the
research. She’s strong, tough, and a self-proclaimed badass. Any
group would be lucky to fight alongside her…until the unthinkable
makes her doubt every skill she’s acquired.
Dr. Jones is a scientist who doesn’t understand why he was selected to
produce a cure…
produce a cure…
Surely there are survivors more experienced in virology than he is. And what
will happen to him—and the rest of the species—if he fails? Is
the fate of the human race really resting on his shoulders? Or are
there others working toward the same goal?
will happen to him—and the rest of the species—if he fails? Is
the fate of the human race really resting on his shoulders? Or are
there others working toward the same goal?
With the zombies multiplying and survivors struggling to make it to the
sanctuary, Ethan, Alyssa, and Dr. Jones fight to fulfill their
destinies. If they fail, their fate is sealed, and they will join the
millions of others who have been…
sanctuary, Ethan, Alyssa, and Dr. Jones fight to fulfill their
destinies. If they fail, their fate is sealed, and they will join the
millions of others who have been…
Forgotten.
Forgotten is book two in the AM13 Outbreak series, and it features brand new characters who weren't in the first book.
Forgotten switches between the viewpoints of Ethan, a young man suffering from OCD and anxiety, and Alyssa, a young woman who is determined to live through the insanity that is the zombie apocalypse. Ethan happens to be related to Leah, the main character in book one, but Alyssa is unrelated to anyone from the first book.
Unsure of what to do, where to go, or how to continue surviving in such a messed up world, Alyssa spends her days trying to find safe places to stay while also keeping an eye out for the mysterious E, who has been leaving messages around the city. Eventually she meets up with a group of people, and together, they all do whatever it takes to get through this nightmare unscathed. Are they successful? Well, you won't get any spoilers from me.
Ethan, on the other hand, is on the verge of a breakdown. He can't deal with the insanity going on in the world anymore. Stranded and left behind after making it to the airport, where others were told to congregate so they could make it to safety, Ethan decides to end it all. If he has no one left in his life, he doesn't want to live. Or does he...?
I found Forgotten to be very well fleshed-out (excuse the pun) and intense. Alyssa gets more screen time, if you will, but even the scenes with Ethan add their own special boost to the story to make it more intriguing. I found myself a little more invested in whether or not Ethan would survive, if he would give up, or if he was the mysterious E who Alyssa was looking for.
I did enjoy Alyssa's character, and the characters she meets up with later on in the book. They're all characters you want to root for. You want them to survive.
Forgotten, overall, is a really great read. I give it 4.5 stars, and I'd definitely recommend it. Well worth the read.
Forgotten switches between the viewpoints of Ethan, a young man suffering from OCD and anxiety, and Alyssa, a young woman who is determined to live through the insanity that is the zombie apocalypse. Ethan happens to be related to Leah, the main character in book one, but Alyssa is unrelated to anyone from the first book.
Unsure of what to do, where to go, or how to continue surviving in such a messed up world, Alyssa spends her days trying to find safe places to stay while also keeping an eye out for the mysterious E, who has been leaving messages around the city. Eventually she meets up with a group of people, and together, they all do whatever it takes to get through this nightmare unscathed. Are they successful? Well, you won't get any spoilers from me.
Ethan, on the other hand, is on the verge of a breakdown. He can't deal with the insanity going on in the world anymore. Stranded and left behind after making it to the airport, where others were told to congregate so they could make it to safety, Ethan decides to end it all. If he has no one left in his life, he doesn't want to live. Or does he...?
I found Forgotten to be very well fleshed-out (excuse the pun) and intense. Alyssa gets more screen time, if you will, but even the scenes with Ethan add their own special boost to the story to make it more intriguing. I found myself a little more invested in whether or not Ethan would survive, if he would give up, or if he was the mysterious E who Alyssa was looking for.
I did enjoy Alyssa's character, and the characters she meets up with later on in the book. They're all characters you want to root for. You want them to survive.
Forgotten, overall, is a really great read. I give it 4.5 stars, and I'd definitely recommend it. Well worth the read.
Lockdown
AM13 Series Book 1
Leah Watton’s practical joke has spiralled way out of control—all to
impress a crush…
impress a crush…
With a prank online video, Leah hopes to catch the attention of Jake
Colton, a cute, blond-haired, blue-eyed co-worker she’s had a crush
on for months. But instead of sending it to Jake, she manages to
forward the clip to her boss—who buys every gory second.
Colton, a cute, blond-haired, blue-eyed co-worker she’s had a crush
on for months. But instead of sending it to Jake, she manages to
forward the clip to her boss—who buys every gory second.
When mass panic ensues, Leah learns the video is more than a staged act…
The government is calling the virus AM13. As the outbreak spreads,
citizens are forced to stay indoors while they assess the gravity of
the illness. Most people are quarantined in their homes, but Leah,
Jake, and Leah’s best friend Michelle are some of the unlucky few
who are stuck at work when the Lockdown occurs.
citizens are forced to stay indoors while they assess the gravity of
the illness. Most people are quarantined in their homes, but Leah,
Jake, and Leah’s best friend Michelle are some of the unlucky few
who are stuck at work when the Lockdown occurs.
That’s where she first encounters one of the infected…
Aside from a contaminated woman devouring one of her co-workers, Leah has
another problem. Does she do as she’s ordered and stay at work? Or
should she disobey government orders and break free to reunite with
her family?
another problem. Does she do as she’s ordered and stay at work? Or
should she disobey government orders and break free to reunite with
her family?
She can’t go it alone—after all, Leah has none of the skills needed
to survive—but with Michelle and Jake by her side, not even a
contagious virus and a sea of the dead can keep her from…
to survive—but with Michelle and Jake by her side, not even a
contagious virus and a sea of the dead can keep her from…
Breaking out of the Lockdown…
It starts out pretty normal, with main character Leah browsing the internet for a video to "prank" her crush with rather than doing her job. However, she accidentally sends this video to her boss, who then begins to take it more seriously than she expected. And when she starts getting hounded, she starts to freak out. She has no idea why this prank has gotten so out of control. Until things start to spiral into a hellish nightmare.
Leah and her co-workers are stuck in their office during the government sanctioned lockdown while things are supposedly "taken care of." Leah, however, doesn't want to be stuck inside. She and two others decide to ignore the lockdown and try to find their families to make sure they're safe instead.
What starts out as a pretty simple journey turns into a fight for survival when Leah and her co-workers realize the lockdown really was put into place for their own safety. Do they make it to safety? Do they find their families? Read it and find out.
I found Lockdown to be a bit slow at first. Leah was kind of frustrating, mostly because she was a little on the immature side. She really only thought about herself and what her crush would think of her. She just wanted to impress him. And she spent a lot of the book questioning why her prank video was being taken so seriously. She questioned why her name had been released with the news report involving the video. And she had moments where you kind of wanted to shake her and tell her to wake up. That her prank video wasn't just some fake thing she found on the internet, and that she'd best start believing in zombies.
Leah did get a little better later on in the book. She wasn't as frustrating once things got going. And her friends/co-workers, Michelle and Jake, were two characters you found yourself liking more than her on occasion.
The one thing that bothered me was that there was no real closure for one of the characters. I don't want to spoil anything, but one character disappears at one point, and by the end of the book, you're still unsure what happened to them. Did they get bitten and die? Did they somehow manage to survive? Unless I missed something, that's never resolved.
Overall, though, Lockdown is a pretty good start to a very interesting zombie apocalypse/horror trilogy. It's definitely a book that will hook you and make you want to read the other two books in the series.
I give it 4 stars.
Samie Sands is a 28 year old freelance graphic designer who has recently
decided to follow her lifelong dream and use her creativity in a new
way by writing.
decided to follow her lifelong dream and use her creativity in a new
way by writing.
She has a degree in Media Studies and PR and has already had articles published in a
number of e-zines, including one of the most popular pieces at Zombie
Guide Magazine. She has also had short stories included in a number
of successful projects.
number of e-zines, including one of the most popular pieces at Zombie
Guide Magazine. She has also had short stories included in a number
of successful projects.
She lives in a small seaside town in the UK, but loves to travel to gain
inspiration from new places and different cultures.
inspiration from new places and different cultures.
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