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| Goodreads |
Paperback: 225 pages
Published March 30 2012 by Evolved Publishing
Source: won a copy in giveaway hosted by the author
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Goodreads summary: Trace Monroe doesn’t believe in luck. He never has. But when a fiery-headed cowgirl saunters through the saloon doors, wielding shotguns and a know-how for killing the living dead, he believes he just may be the luckiest man alive. Trace wants to join "Red’s" posse, but she prefers to work alone—less messy that way.
In order to become her traveling companion, Trace has to agree to her terms: no names, no questions, and if he gets bit, he can’t beg for mercy when she severs his brain stem. He agrees, knowing only that Red is the sharpest shooter he’s ever encountered. The fact she’s stunning hasn’t escaped his attention either.
What he doesn’t know, is that Red has a very good reason to be on top of her game. She not only has the answer for how they can all outlive the plague taking over the wild, wild west, she is the answer.
How can you not be curious about a book that combines zombies and western? Both are quite out of my comfort zone; I haven't read too many zombie books, and I definitely can't remember if I've ever read a western, but blend these two and it sounds like a deliciously twisted story that I enjoyed more than my reading habits would have led me to believe. Angela Scott has done a nice job bringing these two together to create an entertaining and enjoyable read.
Wanted: Dead or Undead is a zombie story with lots of gore and bites and dissected limbs, set against the backdrop of saloons, poker, horses and revolvers. Our main character, Red/Elisabeth is fierce in fight, a master gunslinger, a loner with a horrible past, a girl who doesn't trust anyone (with good reason). In the course of the novel, she will find out that one can't survive a zombie plague alone, and eventually shares her secrets with Trace, who himself has ulterior motives to stay in her vicinity.
Parts of this novel were completely horrifying, while others made me laugh out loud. It's interesting that both are down to Red and her conduct with the zombies and Trace. The ending (and the preview of the sequel) made me shiver.There's a promise of an even more blood-curling course of events and I'm at the same time anxious and afraid of what happens next.
If you're new to either of these two genres, this book is a nice introduction to both. It's a fun and quick read (I finished it in two days) and it has enough horror, humor and romance to satisfy even the pickiest reader. It's a little slower in pace than I prefer. Still I found myself turning the pages feverishly to find out what terrifying surprise awaits behind the corner.
Many thanks to Angela for sending me a signed copy of her book! I've a been a long-time follower of Angela's blog. It's a great feeling holding a finished copy in my hands having witnessed its road to publication and Angela's hard work and determination!
