Review: Action-packed zombie-western
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 03 7, 2014
'King' by Ben Dixon and Sam Campbell is the fourth book in the Red Dust Series. Actually, because of the brevity and presentation of these books, I'm more inclined to call them serials. I've read and enjoyed the previous installments and had high expectations for this book, especially after seeing the enticing book cover. I think what impressed me most about the first set of books was the creativity and compelling storyline. The events of the previous books were haunting and convincingly told, making you feel for the characters and their plight.This book, despite some formatting and editorial flaws, is well written and moves briskly. The faster pace is sure to be a plus for some readers. But I felt it came at a price. I wasn't able to enjoy this book as much as the others because it's primarily action and not much plot. There isn't any character development and the story seems to be moving from one action scene to the next, which again, I think is great for some readers, especially those who are looking for things to pick up when compared to the original books. But for me, I longed for more of the clever storytelling that immersed me into this world. I didn't feel the mounting dread from the other books, which was part of the fun.Overall, this story is mostly a showcase of well-written action. But I hope we'll see a return to the high-stakes drama of the earlier books that really was both creepy and gripping.2.5 stars rounded up to a 3 for fast-paced zombie-killing action.Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for review.