Fighting To Survive by Rhiannon Frater Book Review

Title: Fighting to Survive
Author: Rhiannon Frater
Series: As the World Dies, Book Two
Publisher: Tor
Pages: 364
Genre: Horror, Zombies
My Copy: Bought at the Store


Book Synopsis:


The Hundred or So Survivors in the Fortified Heart of Ashley Oaks are Running Out of Food and Room. The newly renovated historic hotel seems a perfect sanctuary-of zombies.


A pitched battle in the banquet room is the start of a harrowing, room-by-room struggle from the reception to the roof. The connection between beauty and death has never been more apparent to Katie, Travis, Jenni, and Juan than when they celebrate and mourn in the hotel’s lovely rooftop gazebo.


As search and rescue teams bring food, supplies-and more survivors-back to town, they draw unwanted attention. Bandits see the fort’s citizens as competition for dwindling stocks of unspoiled provisions…and as a ready source of women to be used and abused. The Bandit’s first few attacks are minor skirmishes, but Travis and Juan, unofficial leaders of the community, know there is worse to come.


Outside threats are not the fort’s only concern. The mayor’s failing health spurs a battle for power. Travis’s vow never to kill faces it’s greatest test. A vicious assault on Katie leads to vigilante action that shatters the rule of law. Jenni’s tenuous hold on sanity begins to slip. Juan is accused of murder.


And beyond the fort’s walls the zombies shamble, moaning, eyes fastened hungrily upon the living.


Book Review:


A solid book in a very good series. What I like about this book, is that we are moving forward in a very dangerous world to say the least. The book seems very realistic and not to hard to believe. I really like the realism of this book. The situations the characters find themselves in are what fate has dealt them.


They are in a fortified town, but are bringing more people. More people = less resources and food. So they have to rectify that. Not to mention one of the towns that they had contact suffered from a natural disaster and they haven’t heard from them since. So this makes it more essential to get the hotel cleared of zombies.


Now, the hotel scenes were some of the scary ones I’ve ever read, but were so riveting at the same time. You get to see how fast and perilous life is in this world. They were scary and sad. Especially as some of the characters that  we just fell in love with die from the first book. I also love how some people let their fear drive them. I also like that we get to see some people risk everything for others.


The other thing that I like is that there are new relationships developing and how precious a thing that is to have in the new world, because literally life can be short. One moment you can be alive, next you could be dead or worse, one of the zombies.


Also like how some people step up in this book in some very different ways. Some people want to help in administration. Making weapons and doing other things. This was the case for both Yolanda and Jason. Plus Nerit training someone else to be a sharp shooter. Nerit is very tough and I just love her to pieces, because she looks at you and tells you straight. Plus she doesn’t sugar coat it. It’s kill or be killed in this world.


The other thing is that Jenni has to face the demons of her past and some of it’s in her mind. She needs to work through that. At one point, you can take what she is going through. Katie helps her and tells her that Lloyd is in the past. He can’t hurt her anymore. Kate also goes through some major transitions as well in the book. By the end, she gets some news that will probably have some major ramifications in the next book.


Bandits were a big part of this book. I can really see that people would do this. Take the weak and make them believe that they are to help them. Also they see that the Fort is a competition for the few resources that they have left. Not to mention they are pushing the zombies towards the fort. This was so well written.


I felt that this book showed what happens when people get together and have to reform a society, the good, the bad, the ugly. There is always hope too. Hope for a better world and sometimes in believing in something better. How sometimes people try to work together and have to work against other people who would want to destroy them. Not to mention that they need to restart building society with people who have skills and have many things. Love the relationships that come out of this book. Such a good book.


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