Beyond Exile

Day by Day Armageddon, Book 2

By: J. L. Bourne

Narrated by: Jay Snyder

Length: 9 hrs and 40 mins

Publisher's summary

The first book of Day by Day Armageddon took us deep into the mind of a military officer and survivor as he made a New Year's resolution to start keeping a journal. The man kept his resolution and brought to us the fall of humanity, day by day. We see the man transition from the life that you and I live to the prospect of fighting for his very survival against the overwhelming hordes of the dead. We see him bleed, we see him make mistakes, we witness him evolve. The highly anticipated sequel to the best-selling underground cult classic, Day by Day Armageddon, begins where the first novel left off.

BEGIN INTERCEPT

Armies of undead have risen up across the U.S. and around the globe; there is no safe haven from the diseased corpses hungering for human flesh. But in the heat of a Texas wasteland, a small band of survivors attempt to counter the millions closing in around them.

INTERCEPT COMPLETED

Day by day, the handwritten journal entries of one man caught in a worldwide cataclysm capture the desperation--and the will to survive--as he joins forces with a handful of refugees to battle soulless enemies both human and inhuman from inside an abandoned strategic missile facility. But in the world of the undead, is mere survival enough?

©2010 J.L. Bourne (P)2010 Audible, Inc.

Still good! Real Good!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

An interesting look at the world post-zombie takeover. Mr. Bourne paints a very realistic picture of what might happen if our world was over run by the undead. While no longer narrated in the third person, this allows the story to expand and engage in a different manner than the first two books. Some have criticized this change from the first two books, but I found it refreshing and not at all distracting. I sure hope that there is a 4th book in the offing...

Entertaining Zombie Battles

As I began to write this review I realized I do not have a name for the protagonist. He is listed in Book 1 as “the Unknown Survivor" (TUS). We know that he was an officer who found himself the soul survivor of the plague that turned his squadron into the living dead. Now he is a man struggling to survive with a small group of other survivors. TUS journals each day to keep track of the epidemic and the brave efforts to fight off the undead and find other survivors.

TUS is doing well with a group at their compound at “Hotel 23”, an abandoned, underground, strategic missile facility in Texas. The Hotel has proved to be a secure haven from the world of the undead although it still suffers threats from human raiders.

The journaling continues as TUS and his friends forage for food, fuel and (noncombatant) survivors. The Hotel 23 crew hear a distress call from a Marine squadron whose vehicle broke down. TUS and others run a rescue mission to save the Marines from the undead. They don’t want the Marines to know where the compound is so the men are blindfolded for the travel before they are returned to their own unit. Of course the Marines then try to find Hotel 23 and when they finally arrive they threaten to break in until TUS realizes he has a way to control the situation.

TUS also finds a note at a Texas airport indicating there are other survivors at another airport. Of course, he sets off on another rescue mission and encounters more hordes of undead.

Another ‘adventure’ ends with TUS surviving a helicopter flight that strands him far from home. He is struggling along the way home when he gets unexpected help in the form of supplies dropped from the sky. The supplies give him an advantage that just might allow him to work his way back to Hotel 23. TUS runs into difficult situations and is lucky to find another military specialist, Saien, who joins him along the trek.

Even in a time when 90% of the population are undead, TUS discovers he still has to deal with authority and manipulation. He will have to make some political decisions when opposing sides command his actions.

The story is full of gritty action and intrigue. The journaling approach works to present TUS’ view of action and military input. However the journal (and story) have a limited emotional presentation. There is little depth and background development among most of the secondary characters. Still the story is entertaining. I recommend this to readers who enjoy the zombie genre.

Audio Notes: Jay Snyder does a good job with the narration. He manages to convey the intensity in the action even though he is reading a journal. I enjoy this in audio.

Would be a lot better without the sci fi/ high tech military angle.

Great book, fun zombie apocalypse story.

With some spoilers, he encounters a high tech military faction while traveling on foot in the zombie area and they basically are constantly giving him supplies and weapons and help. It takes away from the apocalypse survival aspect of the story and is totally unnecessary. Would be better if it was just him, his wits, and what tools he can find around him.

Good story - Can't wait for the next one

The story is as good or maybe better than the previous book. There is never a dull moment in this new macabre world of the undead. It also leaves the possibility for a third book. I can't wait. The narrator was also very good. If you liked the first book even a little, then this is a worthwhile listen.

Excellent

This series is a real treat a blend of sci fi, action and horror. Looks are deceiving in that there is a deeper story than just a simple genre book

One of the BEST Zombie "Journey" stories out there

I'd be hard-pressed to come up with a better recommendation for a book about one man's journey through a catastrophic zombie event. It IS written as a journal, which may take a few minutes to get used to, but trust me, IT WORKS. Not only does the journal-style work, but it also adds to the tension of the story. Do yourself a favor, and download this AND the sequel. You will want to start up the sequel right after the first one ends. There is nothing in this book that I would've changed. It is pretty much perfect, for what it is.

This is just a great series!! Must Listen!

If you read/listened to the first DAY BY DAY ARMAGEDDON, then you already know that this second book would be just as great. It leaves off right when the first book ends. Its a different scenario because now its more established survivalist book. The zombies are faster, smarter and scarier. And its a great thriller with alot of good twist throughout the book. I can not wait for the 3rd book to come to audio! Please hurry!! and if you like these two books then you would love the TV show on A&E, The Walking Dead. But yes I recommend this series!!

Kept me up listening

I couldn't take out my headphones. Every time I got to a transition point in the book that would make for a good stopping point I found myself listening to just a little more until I completed the whole thing. That is the best compliment I can give a book. 5 Stars from me.

Just as good!

If you loved the first book go ahead and use your credit. This book is just as good!

Great series

I love audio books, but I have to be reeled in within the first 15 to 20 minutes or I lose interest and move on to the next one. This series caught me from the beginning and I haven't looked back. I am looking forward to the third book to see how everything is tied together.