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yodamom's review
4.0
I really enjoyed this book, the first story was my favorite. Did i think that zombies could be sexy before this book, no. This author Zoe Archer, wrote so well I wanted my own zombie. LOL The characters are well written and I wanted ore of the story. I will look for more writings from Zoe Archer.4 stars
The second story was less favorable towards the zombies portraying them as the flesh eating monsters we are used to seeing. It was a quick Romance with a predictable ending but still enjoyable. 2.5 stars
The second story was less favorable towards the zombies portraying them as the flesh eating monsters we are used to seeing. It was a quick Romance with a predictable ending but still enjoyable. 2.5 stars
birdloveranne's review
3.0
2 unrelated stories. The one by Zoe Archer is a historical. I liked it. The one by Bianca D'arc was a contemporary. It was good. Lots of sex in that one. Overall 3.5 stars.
nikiryther's review against another edition
5.0
Fantastic story!
Though I’m primarily into shifters and vampires and such, I absolutely love this authors other works and decided to give this series a try. I’m SO glad I did. Simon and Mari’s prior history really set the stage for their second chance romance, and it was great to see it play out. I also loved that the author had a believable cause to the zombies; something plausible that didn’t make me just shake my head. All in all, I loved it and am ready to dive into book 2!
Though I’m primarily into shifters and vampires and such, I absolutely love this authors other works and decided to give this series a try. I’m SO glad I did. Simon and Mari’s prior history really set the stage for their second chance romance, and it was great to see it play out. I also loved that the author had a believable cause to the zombies; something plausible that didn’t make me just shake my head. All in all, I loved it and am ready to dive into book 2!
jaimewrites's review
4.0
The Zoe Archer novella is a good read for anyone already familiar with the Blades of the Rose series; the story is one that fits for the short format, and it follows the same general lines as the rest of the stories. Meanwhile, the Bianca D'Arc novella was good enough to make me want to seek out the novels in her Guardians of the Dark series - I love the idea of mixing paranormal with traditional military adventure romance. The only complaint I have with it is that it was paced very strangely; there was a long (very good!) sex scene after what should have been the end of the story, it felt weirdly tacked on.
All in all, a good read, I recommend this!
All in all, a good read, I recommend this!
ccgwalt's review
3.0
****Partial Review****
Review for Zoe Archer novella only.
If this story is a representative example of Archer's writing, I'm not impressed. The writing wasn't bad, just utilitarian, and at times overly dramatic. Archer definitely learned the "no vapid verbs" rule in high school English. No one in this story gets mad, they get enraged. They don't turn around, they spin. They don't mount a horse, they vault. And in the middle, literally in the middle, of an intense fighting sequence, the two protagonists stop long enough to look into each others eyes with admiration, desire and...wait for it.... a surge of lust. Oh, yeah. And the characters are often shaken with profound emotion.
The story concept was interesting, and the actions scenes were decent. I already own Warrior so I'll read it, and hope for less melodrama and more development.
Review for Zoe Archer novella only.
If this story is a representative example of Archer's writing, I'm not impressed. The writing wasn't bad, just utilitarian, and at times overly dramatic. Archer definitely learned the "no vapid verbs" rule in high school English. No one in this story gets mad, they get enraged. They don't turn around, they spin. They don't mount a horse, they vault. And in the middle, literally in the middle, of an intense fighting sequence, the two protagonists stop long enough to look into each others eyes with admiration, desire and...wait for it.... a surge of lust. Oh, yeah. And the characters are often shaken with profound emotion.
The story concept was interesting, and the actions scenes were decent. I already own Warrior so I'll read it, and hope for less melodrama and more development.
nyxshadow's review
3.0
http://nyx-shadow.blogspot.fr/2012/06/half-past-dead-zoe-archer-bianca-darc.html
lizabethstucker's review
4.0
A small collection of two zombie romances, not something that would normally appeal to me, but Zoe Archer's names was enough to have me buy it. A good decision as both stories were very good, although there is a caveat with D'Arc's story. I would give the collection a 3.75 out of 4.
"The Undying Heart" by Zoe Archer. Cassandra Fielding, relatively new member of the Blades of the Rose, has been keeping Colonel Kenneth Broadwell under observation. A member of the arrogant Heirs of Albion, Broadwell was suspected of possessing a Source of magic. No one realized he was bringing the dead back to semi-life as controlled zombies. Including Sam Reed, the man Cassie had always loved. Somehow Sam broke free of Broadwell's control and is out for revenge, running into Cassie in the pursuit.
This prequel to Archer's Blades of the Rose series is quite possibly the only sexy zombie story I will ever read. As long as you don't think about what causes erections in the physical sense, or exactly what was in those emissions. Cassie is a headstrong, capable heroine who loves an angry, grieving hero despite his lack of life. We're shown strong characters with an iron moral code, even at the cost of their own happiness. You can't help but love and root for both of them. 4 out of 5.
"Simon Says" by Bianca D'Arc. The undead are a contagion, spreading throughout the neighborhood of the local military base. Simon Blackwell was one of the only victims who didn't turn completely, but there were definite changes to his system. After he was attacked, Simon cut off all contact with the woman he loved, Dr. Mariana Daniels. He chose instead to lurk outside her cabin in an effort to protect her from the completely turned zombies he was trying to kill.
Here we have an all too possible result of indiscriminate experimentation and research without proper safeguards against what might happen, even if it hasn't been thought of yet. Whether it is Ebola at the CDC or a zombie infestation at a military base, commonsense appears to be missing. You do come to understand Simon's fears about what he might become, and how he resists engaging in a relationship with Mari, despite their deep love for each other.
At this point, I was loving the story. But then the ending sex scenes turned a bit past what I usually like. First, we have the use of the word "pussy". Unless it refers to a cat, I find myself turned off by the use of it, just like I don't care for "cunt" and other squicky words. Then there seems to be a gratuitous spanking scene. Was it really needed? Nope, not really. So I dropped the rating from 4 to 3.5 out of 5.
"The Undying Heart" by Zoe Archer. Cassandra Fielding, relatively new member of the Blades of the Rose, has been keeping Colonel Kenneth Broadwell under observation. A member of the arrogant Heirs of Albion, Broadwell was suspected of possessing a Source of magic. No one realized he was bringing the dead back to semi-life as controlled zombies. Including Sam Reed, the man Cassie had always loved. Somehow Sam broke free of Broadwell's control and is out for revenge, running into Cassie in the pursuit.
This prequel to Archer's Blades of the Rose series is quite possibly the only sexy zombie story I will ever read. As long as you don't think about what causes erections in the physical sense, or exactly what was in those emissions. Cassie is a headstrong, capable heroine who loves an angry, grieving hero despite his lack of life. We're shown strong characters with an iron moral code, even at the cost of their own happiness. You can't help but love and root for both of them. 4 out of 5.
"Simon Says" by Bianca D'Arc. The undead are a contagion, spreading throughout the neighborhood of the local military base. Simon Blackwell was one of the only victims who didn't turn completely, but there were definite changes to his system. After he was attacked, Simon cut off all contact with the woman he loved, Dr. Mariana Daniels. He chose instead to lurk outside her cabin in an effort to protect her from the completely turned zombies he was trying to kill.
Here we have an all too possible result of indiscriminate experimentation and research without proper safeguards against what might happen, even if it hasn't been thought of yet. Whether it is Ebola at the CDC or a zombie infestation at a military base, commonsense appears to be missing. You do come to understand Simon's fears about what he might become, and how he resists engaging in a relationship with Mari, despite their deep love for each other.
At this point, I was loving the story. But then the ending sex scenes turned a bit past what I usually like. First, we have the use of the word "pussy". Unless it refers to a cat, I find myself turned off by the use of it, just like I don't care for "cunt" and other squicky words. Then there seems to be a gratuitous spanking scene. Was it really needed? Nope, not really. So I dropped the rating from 4 to 3.5 out of 5.
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