Dearly, Departed: A Zombie Novel

By: Lia Habel

Narrated by: Kim Mai Guest, Mike Chamberlain, Justine Eyre, Mark Bramhall, Robertson Dean

Love can never die.

Love conquers all, so they say. But can Cupid’s arrow pierce the hearts of the living and the dead—or rather, the undead? Can a proper young Victorian lady find true love in the arms of a dashing zombie?

The year is 2195. The place is New Victoria—a high-tech nation modeled on the manners, mores, and fashions of an antique era. A teenager in high society, Nora Dearly is far more interested in military history and her country’s political unrest than in tea parties and debutante balls. But after her beloved parents die, Nora is left at the mercy of her domineering aunt, a social-climbing spendthrift who has squandered the family fortune and now plans to marry her niece off for money. For Nora, no fate could be more horrible—until she’s nearly kidnapped by an army of walking corpses.

But fate is just getting started with Nora. Catapulted from her world of drawing-room civility, she’s suddenly gunning down ravenous zombies alongside mysterious black-clad commandos and confronting “The Laz,” a fatal virus that raises the dead—and hell along with them. Hardly ideal circumstances. Then Nora meets Bram Griswold, a young soldier who is brave, handsome, noble . . . and dead. But as is the case with the rest of his special undead unit, luck and modern science have enabled Bram to hold on to his mind, his manners, and his body parts. And when his bond of trust with Nora turns to tenderness, there’s no turning back. Eventually, they know, the disease will win, separating the star-crossed lovers forever. But until then, beating or not, their hearts will have what they desire.

In Dearly, Departed, romance meets walking-dead thriller, spawning a madly imaginative novel of rip-roaring adventure, spine-tingling suspense, and macabre comedy that forever redefines the concept of undying love.

Tender darkness

Excellent performances, i must say that much first! The story is a surprisingly hopeful one of tenderness in a dystopian setting, emotional and compelling.

New Favorite!

Would you listen to Dearly, Departed again? Why?

Yes! The story was excellent!

Any additional comments?

I can't even describe how much I loved this book!!! It was just amazing! This is the second zombie book I've ever read, and I'm extremely surprised to have loved them both. This one however may be my new favorite book. This was also my first foray into the steampunk genre, and I think I'm going to be a fan.

I loved every one of the characters; I loved the mix of old-fashioned propriety and super advanced technology; I loved the science behind everything; I loved the humor; I loved the dialogue; I loved the emotion; I LOVED BRAM!! It was just. so. good.

The romance was sweet and sexy, and all of the other relationships were wonderful as well. Like all books, it was slightly predictable in a few spots, but I didn't mind at all. Awesome story!

Based on the ending, I'm sure there will be a sequel. I can't wait to read it! The narrators were amazing. I think each of them captured their characters perfectly. I'm actually thinking about going out and buying a hard copy just so I can have it on my shelf. Definitely one of my top 2 favorite books if not my number 1. I will read everything Lia Habel writes. :)

Cute!

Would you be willing to try another book from Lia Habel? Why or why not?

Probably.

Any additional comments?

I thought this book was light and cute! I loved the zombie angle, I am usually not a big zombie fan, but this book I liked. In my opinion it was a bit better than Twilight. The characters were fun!

Zombie Romance

I really enjoyed this story. Everything seemed to wrap up nicely as if the author had intended it to be a stand alone novel, until the last few pages. I think the author decided at the very last possible second to create an opening for another book. Luckily though, there are no cliffhangers. Also, the narrators did a wonderful job!

Strong story, but some characters could use work

I expected to like DEARLY, DEPARTED (Gone With Respiration #1) more than I did. This was a decent steampunkish zombie story with a pretty strong plot and some great action that suffered due to its less then inspiring cast. Though the male characters were ok (those alive and undead), it was the females that really tarnished this promising tale for me. I found Nora to be a bit whiny and uninteresting, but I do feel she can be saved as her and Bram’s story continues to develop … Truthfully it was her friend Pam who I found irritating and the female narrator did nothing to help the grating situation. So really the writing skills and concepts are there and I’m encouraged by this and the series potential. Lia Habel just needs to strengthen her characters moving forward, not the zombies, the zombies are great, but please, please drop Pam from the lineup, I believe she’s supposed to be sympathetic character but really she’s just so annoying! All that being said, I’m fully open to seeing where Habel takes the story from here and plan to check out book #2 DEARLY, BELOVED when it’s released in 2012.

One last thing I must speak out about... I have heard comparisons drawn between this series and Gail Carriger's Parasol Protectorate series, calling DEARLY, DEPARTED the “YA equivalent” to SOULLESS… As a huge fan of that saucy steampunk paranormal series, I strongly dispute that comparison. Aside from them both coming from the steampunk genre, they have nothing else in common. While the Parasol Protectorate series is based around an adult woman who is relentlessly cheeky and audacious, not to mention outright hilarious as she interacts with those around her; be it human company or supernatural (vampire, werewolf or ghost) Alexia is always herself, appropriate or not. While DEARLY, DEPARTED is a teen romance between a Victorian era 17 year old girl and a charming zombie teen male. I hate to say it, but like so many of the young adult paranormal fiction out right now, TWILIGHT would make for a s better suited comparison to this YA read… just don’t expect it to be as good as TWILIGHT, at least not yet anyway.