I should start by saying that young adult zombie apocalypse is not my preferred reading genre. In fact, until this series I had never read a zombie book. So, I'm not sure what attracted me to DOMINO FALLS. The cover? The synopsis? The authors whom I have heard other readers praise? A craving for something different? All of the above? Whatever it was, I'm grateful for the impulse. DOMINO FALLS is a gripping and suspenseful story of the struggle to survive against a mysteriously evolving threat.

Being new to zombie apocalypses, I had to start at the beginning of the series with Devil's Wake which brings together a group of teenagers on a journey to a safe haven after an infection turns much of humanity into raging, biting zombie-like freaks. Kendra, Terry, and the others have made their way safely to Domino Falls (aka Threadville), a town with strict rules and regulations focused on keeping everyone safe and alive. As the teens try to find and keep their place in town, strange events start them wondering about the town's secrets. Is anyone safe when the danger inside the protective fence seems greater than the danger outside?

DOMINO FALLS is a story of courage, resilience, and loyalty. It values the power of family, whatever form the family might take. With so many dead, bonds are formed among the survivors that are as strong as those forged by blood. It is these bonds that make every potential injury or zombie bite high-stakes danger. Not surprisingly, there is uncertainty about who is telling the truth and who can be trusted which adds a compelling layer of threat to the narrative. Revelations about the true nature of the infection left me frantic to know what happens next. Unfortunately, I'll have to wait for the next book in the series. I hope I don't have to wait too long!

Book Summary

It began on Freak Day—that day no one could explain, when strangers and family members alike went crazy and started biting one another. Some thought the outbreak was caused by a flu shot, others that it was a diet drug gone terribly wrong. All anyone knew is that once you were bitten and went to sleep, you woke up a freak.