Omega Days by John L. Campbell
Series: Omega Days #1
Publisher: Berkley Publishing Group
Publication Date: May 6, 2014
Date Read: January 5, 2019
Length: 360 pages
Source: Library
★★★★☆
When the end came, it came quickly. No one knew where or exactly when the Omega Virus started, but soon it was everywhere. And when the ones spreading it can’t die, no one stands a chance of surviving.
San Francisco, California. Father Xavier Church has spent his life ministering to unfortunate souls, but he has never witnessed horror like this. After he forsakes his vows in the most heartrending of ways, he watches helplessly as a zombie nun takes a bite out of a fellow priest’s face…
University of California, Berkeley. Skye Dennison is moving into her college dorm for the first time, simultaneously excited to be leaving the nest and terrified to be on her own. When her mother and father are eaten alive in front of her, she realizes the terror has just begun…Alameda, California. Angie West made millions off her family’s reality gun show on the History Channel. But after she is cornered by the swarming undead, her knowledge of heavy artillery is called into play like never before…
Within weeks, the world is overrun by the walking dead. Only the quick and the smart, the strong and the determined, will survive—for now.
I had fun with this zombie book! I saw this book featured at Chuckles Book Cave by my blogger friend, Chuckles and decided that I would give it a try after finding out that my local library had a copy. I ended up reading the entire book in a single day so I guess you could say that I enjoyed it. It was really one of those books that was hard to put to put down. I am so glad I decided to give this book a try.
This was one of those books that tell a story through a lot of different stories. The book starts right as the zombie outbreak starts and nobody is quite sure what exactly is going on. We meet Skye, a college student, as she is moving into her college dorm with her family’s help. Father Xavier Church has an unfortunate event occur that leaves him questioning so many things before the world completely changed. Angie is out filming her reality TV show with her uncle and crew and find that just getting home with the changes in the world will be a challenge. We also meet a Russian pilot, a couple of escaped convicts, a writer, and other assorted characters.
I liked getting all of these different perspectives. Each character had a different situation as that outbreak started and it was very eye-opening to learn how these very different characters dealt with such an impossible situation. Of course, all of the characters that lead these stories are strong characters who are smart, resilient and handle themselves well. Not everyone they come in contact can say those things and often things will end badly for them.
I thought that this story was exciting. There are some pretty intense situations and living conditions for all of the characters are quite harsh. I was happy to see a lot of zombie action in the book and even more happy that a lot of that action is rather brutal. What can I say, I like a bloody book. All of the different threads in the story did start coming together as the book progressed and I am quite excited to see where things will go in the next installment.
I would recommend this book to fans of zombie stories. I thought that this was a well-written story that proved to be quite the page-turner. I look forward to reading more of this exciting series soon.
About the AuthorJohn L. Campbell was born in Chicago and attended college in North Carolina and New York. His short fiction has appeared in numerous anthologies, literary magazines, and e-zines, as well as in two of the author’s own collections. He lives with his family in the New York area, where he is at work on the next Omega Days novel, Ship of the Dead.
it has been ages since I read a zombie one
I seem to be picking them up more often.
Wow, if it's endorsed by you and Chuckles, I apparently need to check this out. I am sort of going through zombie withdrawal anyway until The Walking Dead resumes.
I actually saw this one a Books from the Backlog post at Chuckles Book Cave so I am not sure that she has been able to read it yet but I decided to give it a go.
Always great when a hunch from seeing a book review pans out. I probably don't have the intestinal fortitude for this one, but the way you describe it has me curious about the story.
I had a good feeling when I saw this one on Chuckles Book Cave and it did work out well.
I like zombie gore, too. Thanks for reviewing this one for us!
I think that there are a lot of zombie fans out there.
It's been a while since I've read a zombie story. Glad to hear this was unputdownable.
sherry @ fundinmental
It really was, Sherry!
I'm with Barb, if both you and Chuckles say this is a good one, I think I need to check it out !
I don't think that Chuckles has had the chance to read the book yet but she featured it on a Books from the Backlog post. I guess that proves that any spotlight on a book can help encourage others to pick it up.
I'm not a big zombie fan but glad to hear you enjoyed this one.
Thanks, Mary!
I have not read much zombie stuff. Excellent review. I like your point about the multiple main characters so you get different perspectives on a story. If you like bloody, and fighting, you'd enjoy these Deathstalker books but they are loooooooooong. I'm glad you enjoyed it so well. Anne – Books of My Heart
I will have to check that series out, Anne!
This does sound fun and I'm glad you enjoyed it! I'm not sure this one is for me. I can't quite wrap my head around zombies for some reason. I'm all for ghosts but as soon as I hear the word zombie I'm out.
I am a big fan of zombies but I know that are not for everyone.
I don't read much Zombie books, as matter of fact I can count on one hand the amount I have read. This one sounds good. Great review.
Thanks, Nadene!
I do love a good zombie book, and I'm a fan of The Walking Dead even though I haven't watched an episode in a long time. Maybe someday I'll get back to it. I'm definitely going to look this up. It reminds me a little of Red Hill by Jamie McGuire.
I don't watch a lot of TV but I stay up to date with The Walking Dead. I do like zombies.
I usually don't care for zombies but I don't know. Maybe the multiple POV's facing the zombie apocalypse in their own way makes this one more interesting. Your rave review also helps. Are you planning on reading the next book in the series soon?
I actually have already checked out the next book from the library and hope to get to is soon.
I haven't got round to reading this yet but my dad really enjoyed the series! I plan to read it this year, I hope!
I hope you enjoy it once you get the chance to read it, Chuckles! Thanks for putting it on my radar!
You know it's going to be a good book if you were able to read it in a single day and was addicted to turning the pages! I love how many zombie books you read 😀 It's like you go from reading romance to zombie books – brilliant 😀
I'm a huge fan of zombie books. I'm going to have to give this one a try. Great review.
Melanie @ Hot Listens & Books of My Heart