VeganYANerds: Undead by Kirsty McKay and Unleashed by Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguié

Lately I've been receiving a few sequels for review, mostly from series I haven't heard of, so I've been playing catch up by reading the first books in each series. Today I have two reviews to share:

Undead (Undead #1) by Kirsty McKay
Published 2011 by Chicken House
Source: library
Rating: 4 paws

From the blurb: Out of sight, out of their minds: It's a school-trip splatter fest and completely not cool when the other kids in her class go all braindead on new girl Bobby. The day of the ski trip, when the bus comes to a stop at a roadside restaurant, everyone gets off and heads in for lunch. Everyone, that is, except Bobby, the new girl, who stays behind with rebel-without-a-clue Smitty. Then hours pass. Snow piles up. Sun goes down. Bobby and Smitty start to flirt. Start to stress. Till finally they see the other kids stumbling back. But they've changed. And not in a good way. Straight up, they're zombies. So the wheels on the bus better go round and round freakin' fast, because that's the only thing keeping Bobby and Smitty from becoming their classmates' next meal. It's kill or be killed in these hunger games, heads are gonna roll, and homework is most definitely gonna be late.

Undead was such a fun read, think Shaun of the Dead-style humour. I had read a review of this last year but forgot all about it, probably because it involved zombies. Then I received the sequel for review and I thought I better have a go and I'm so glad I did.

From the opening page I found Bobby to be a very funny and witty young girl from her correction of the use of butt instead of bum to her comment about American high school not being about dance numbers in cafeterias (clearly a swipe at Glee). She’s back in England, only to find that she doesn't feel like she fits in, and isn't enjoying the trip at all. She’s also upset about her father and it’s later revealed that he has passed away.

The secondary characters were just as entertaining. I loved Smitty, he’s brave and cocky and the chemistry between him and Bobby was fantastic. Alice, the prissy, popular girl provided a contrast and I liked that her opinions of her classmates didn't change right away, just because they were the only ones left alive.

I kept thinking “where can this go?” because I really had no idea what would happen next but I was consumed by the story and the mystery behind why everyone suddenly turned into zombies. I was completely surprised by the end and the reason why the outbreak occurred. Despite being so funny, and making references to how stupid people can be in zombie/horror flicks, this did still manage to scare me every now and then, especially when the creepier characters would pop up unexpectedly.

Undead is a thrilling, fast-paced story that is also hilarious and entertaining. I recommend it to all YA fans, even if you’re not usually into zombie books.

Unleashed (Wolf Springs Chronicles #1) by Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguié

Published 2011 by Random House

Source: library

Rating: 2 paws

From the blurb: Katelyn McBride’s life changed in an instant when her mother died. Uprooted from her California home, Katelyn was shipped to the middle of nowhere, Arkansas, to her only living relative, her grandfather. And now she has to start over in Wolf Springs, a tiny village in the Ozark Mountains. Like any small town, Wolf Springs has secrets. But the secrets hidden here are more sinister than Katelyn could ever imagine. It’s a town with a history that reaches back centuries, spans continents, and conceals terrifying truths. And Katelyn McBride is about to change everything.

Unleashed by Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguie is the first book in the Wolf Springs Chronicles. Katelyn McBride moves from sunny L.A to rainy Wolf Springs, Arkansas to live with her grandfather, after her mother dies in an earthquake. Her mother was her only parent as her father was murdered years ago. Katelyn, a talented ballet dancer and gymnast, doesn't want to leave behind her best friend or the modern connivances that she loves, but her grandfather insists. Once she arrives she discovers that Wolf Springs is a very small town, and her grandfather lives in isolation. She’s warned several times not to be out at night because of things in the woods and she slowly becomes aware of strange occurrences in and around town.

Katelyn was extremely judgemental about everything. She and her best friend, Kimi, have been speculating about the people of Wolf Springs and how they’ll all be hicks with bad teeth. On her first day of school she immediately starts judging what sort of people her classmates are, based on their clothing. I wanted to feel sorry for Kat, she had to watch her mother die, but I didn't feel anything for her. She wasn't very strong, she didn't speak up, she kept secrets, and she was really slow to pick up all the hints about what was really going on.

The rest of the cast all felt suspicious, and the book kept on trying to show me that everyone was a little weird, with such force that it was over the top. Everyone was vague, kept disappearing or were always alluding to things in mysterious ways.

The setting felt the same. We’re told over and over again how isolated the town is, there’s hardly any mobile phone reception, people get attacked and killed in the woods, everyone is very wary of strangers, there’s a lot of spooky history involving animal attacks. It was pretty obvious that something involving wolves and/or werewolves was going to go down, but it was just so repetitive.

I didn't find Unleashed to be a very interesting or unique read at all, but if you’re a fan of werewolves/paranormal YA, it might be your thing.

18 comments:

Bailey said...: Aw I'm bummed to see you didn't really like Unleashed. I have that one on my bookcase waiting to be read. I was really excited about it but now I'm a bit hesitant. I'm glad that you liked Undead though! That isn't one I'm familiar with but it sounds like a good book! Great reviews Mandee! :); 4 February 2013 7:39 am
Keertana said...: I keep thinking I need to read Undead, especially because it seems like the perfect read for a stressful time, but I always forget to see if my library has it. I'm so glad you enjoyed it though, Mandee, and I know I'll have to hunt it down to enjoy it myself soon. Fantastic review, dear!(:; 4 February 2013 7:42 am
Kristin said...: Interesting reads. You guys always find books that I've never heard of. I'll have to add Undead to my list :); 4 February 2013 8:24 am
Shooting Stars Mag said...: Undead sounds kind of fun. I really like zombies, and I want to start reading some more zombie novels...especially ones that have been on my list for awhile.

I'm glad you're catching up on some books. I'm very bad when it comes to books in a series because I can't keep up with them all.; 4 February 2013 2:08 pm
Candace said...: Undead definitely sounds fun. Its not one I have really heard of so I'm glad to know its a great read!

Unleashed sounds like a book that would frustrate me so thanks for the heads up, I will be sure to skip it.; 4 February 2013 3:33 pm
Shirley said...: I find Bobby such an adorable name<3 hahaa
I really don't think I'll read Unleashed...the characters don't sound like ones I enjoy reading about and the story sounds cliched. But I might give Undead a try sometime!; 4 February 2013 9:44 pm
Jennifer Messerschmidt said...: I love zombies and Shaun of the Dead so I'm thinking I would like Undead. I like the thrill and the mystery of if they will escape all the zombies and how did this happen. I really like when humor is thrown in because sometimes zombie books can be too gory and depressing. I have had similar problems with many werewolf books. Where it is just too much danger in the woods without much story.; 4 February 2013 11:32 pm
Katja Weinert said...: Undead was hilarious! Have to agree with all you just said, and I've got Unfed waiting on my bookshelf, hope to pick that up soon. Great review :); 5 February 2013 2:25 am
Christa @ More Than Just Magic said...: I love the Shaun of the Dead comparison for Undead because they do have a similar style of humour. Really enjoyed it and I'm glad you did too; 5 February 2013 4:37 am
kit said...: Undead sounds like a lot of fun - I'm not really into zombie books usually, but this one sounds like an interesting concept and I like the fact that it's a bit Shaun of the Dead-like!; 5 February 2013 6:09 am
Sam said...: I've seen Undead around only a few times, but I know a couple of close friends who have enjoyed it. I do enjoy zombie stories in general, and even better that that one is entertaining. :) Unleashed is currently collecting dust on my shelf and I think it'll stay that way for a while longer. Sorry it didn't quite work for you! Great reviews, Mandee. :); 5 February 2013 8:54 am
Livvy said...: Undead sounds like a really good fun, exciting novel and it has zombies. Zombies seem to be on the rise again. I'm definitely adding that one to my wishlist and glad you could enjoy it so much.

I might hold off on the other novel, Unleashed especially since you didn't enjoy it as much and it had judgemental characters.

Still, great reviews dearest! :); 5 February 2013 9:26 am
Brandi Kosiner said...: Glad that Bobby was a funny mc. I haven't heard much about Undead, but glad it was entertaining.
Happy reading,
Brandi @ Blkosiner’s Book Blog; 5 February 2013 9:40 am
Heidi said...: Hmm, I AM a sucker for wolves, and yet I think Unleashed will not be fore me. It just sounds too cliche when it comes to an overdone thing, and I may love wolf boys, but I need something more unique. Undead sounds fun though! All's you really needed to say was Shaun of the Dead type humor and I was on board. Hope you like the sequel as well!; 5 February 2013 11:06 am
Flannery (The Readventurer) said...: I am not at all a fan of werewolf books so I think I'll give the second one a pass, but the mention of Shaun of the Dead pretty much sold me on the first one. I haven't read a ton of zombie books but those that I *have* read, I've really liked. I'm definitely not tired of that trend yet. (also The Walking Dead comes back on Sunday and I am insanely excited for it); 5 February 2013 8:43 pm
Heidi@Rainy Day Ramblings said...: Ha ha. I loved Undead as well except for the ending. It was zany and funny and the whole Breakfast Club feel was great. I wish they had ridden around on the bus more and smashed zombies. Maybe in book two. THe other one well werewolf books are hit or miss with me as well.; 6 February 2013 5:49 am
Rachel said...: Mandee!! I'm so thrilled you liked Undead! Wasn't it great fun?! I bought the sequel through Amazon UK as it's not available in the US yet, but I still need to read it. It did leave us on a sort of cliff, didn't it. You've reminded me that I need to pick up that sequel.

Sorry Unleashed didn't work for you. Although, to be honest, I've never heard of it.

Great reviews. :); 6 February 2013 4:18 pm
TheBookSlayer said...: I don't really like zombies but I can see myself giving Undead a shot. Zombies just wig me out like no other sueprnatural can, but laced with humor, I think I could handle this particular book.

I thought Unleashed was horrible. I was so bummed out because I love Holder's Wicked series.; 23 February 2013 11:07 am