Review: The Zombies are the Least of it...
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 10 8, 2013
This is a novella, rather than a full novel, and it's so intense, I was glad for the respite. According to the author's note at the end, there are more installments coming, and I can see him gaining quite the fan following.  I want to give a word of warning though: Old World begins as a fairly standard zombie narrative, but it takes a turn into pure horror that won't be for everyone.The story begins with the Lochlears, a family which has survived the viral zombification of nearly all of the population of England, and the first few chapters introduce us to them and how they are surviving post-zombie apocalypse. They are a nice family, but they've been reduced to survivalism and brutal killing at a moment's notice in order to survive. It's a really interesting premise - trying to be a family while having to give up one's humanity, and the smooth, clear prose makes it quick, interesting reading. This beginning section fits in with the same kind of world as The Walking Dead, and it all seems fairly normal for zombie lit. When the glimmer of other survivors appears, the family hit the road in hope, and that is when the novella takes a distinct turn into truly nasty horror. I didn't see It coming and was pretty shocked. It's not my cup of tea, but Oliver Kennedy controls the scenes well; I just didn't have the stomach for this level of gruesome. I'm not sure it was all necessary, either, but for this style of horror the writing is very strong, and I can see Kennedy is taking the ideas somewhere very interesting. I just might be too faint of heart to follow!