Review: Fun Western/Zombie Short story
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 07 14, 2013
Feud by Ben Dixon and Sam Campbell is the second book in the Red Dust series. I dived right into this one without having first given the first book a test drive. But I can truly say that if the first book is as even half as good as this one, then I have some more reading to do.The authors did a terrific job at letting the story unfold without getting caught up in the obligatory recapping of what happened before. Usually, that's the quickest way to make me hit the eject button on a sequel, since confusion can occur. But this is truly a stand-alone story. Whatever events came before need no redressing.As a rule of thumb, I hate Zombie books. Always have, always will. But part of my attraction to this book is that it isn't a straight zombie book. It's a Western that just happens to have Zombies in it. The approach the authors take to this series by playing up its Western elements, first and foremost, makes this book a keeper. The pace is fast and the plot smart and engaging. The story line of a tough-as-nails drifter becoming ensnared in the affairs of a sanctuary town under siege by Zombies kept my interest all the way through. Not an easy feat nowadays considering how jaded I've become of most fiction.There are a few grammatical errors in the story, but nothing too distracting. I would definitely recommend this book to fans of Westerns and Zombie fiction. Not often I can say that. But it's a testament to how fun this story is to read.3.5 stars for a smart and gritty tale that combines the best elements of a Western with Horror.Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest, non-reciprocal, review.