As The World Dies: Untold Tales, Vol. 1

By: Rhiannon Frater

Narrated by: Kathy Bell Denton

Length: 4 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's Summary

THE FIRST DAYS: AS THE WORLD DIES introduced Jenni and Katie and their harrowing journey to the makeshift fort in the Texas Hill Country.

But theirs is not the only tale to be told.

In the first volume of the AS THE WORLD DIES UNTOLD TALES experience three terrifying tales of those who are forced to face the unrelenting and hungry walking dead.

Deep in the Texas Hill Country, a man and his little dog takes refuge in a bed and breakfast located in the hills above a doomed town where an infested rescue center might unleash the hungry undead…

On a deserted highway slicing through the desolation of West Texas, a woman struggles to survive as she faces the horrifying aftermath of the rise of the zombies…

And finally, discover what happens on the first day to Katie's beloved wife, Lydia, as the world dies…

©2011 Rhiannon Frater (P)2012 Rhiannon Frater

awesome listen

The narrator did an excellent job with the characters! And although I haven't read the series I am enthralled with the characters she is giving back stories for and I am looking forward to the original story.

2 people found this helpful

IT'S TIMES LIKE THIS, I'M GLAD I LIVE IN TEXAS,

WE'VE GOT GUNS AND BALLS.
I am writing this as someone who has not read, the As The World Dies series. This is the first volume in the Untold Tales, not the actual series. As I understand it, this is more background on the lesser characters. I did enjoy it, I did not think it was great, but it was enjoyable. I do believe you will enjoy it more if you have read at least one of the books in the actual series.

If you have only read one or two Zombie books, or you just want a Zombie fix this is pretty good. You will not find anything new or different , this is pretty much your vanilla, everyday zombie book. It's not too gory or dark, it's even a little sweet at times. It is supposedly three stories, but the first two or done in less then an hour and the last story is over four hours long. Matter of fact the first story is more just a tidbit of action, not story.

For me it did not get the fifth star for the following reasons. 1. There was never an explanation for why we have Zombies. That is often the best part of these books, was it a mad scientist, our own government, aliens, etc... Perhaps it is explained in the actual series. 2. The book is very predictable. It needs something to make it stand out from the crowd. 3. If you are going to try and be funny, then be funny not punny. I also found it pretty poor taste that a woman would be making jokes, just minutes after she shoots her twin brother in the face. Not counting the fact that she lost her dad, just a few hours before that.

Those little things aside, I did find myself warming up to all the characters. The characters are all regular people, some stupid, some smart, but not super in any way.

One reviewer was worried about the production. I had no sound quality problems. There was twice when a couple of lines where repeated, but it was not enough to ruin the listening experience.

16 people found this helpful

Give this author a listen.

If you have already read the book series As the World Dies trilogy, then this a much recommended listen for you. Having not read the book series yet I look forward to reading them now. I will have a better understanding of the characters. I really enjoyed these short stories they provided back stories to the characters from the book series. I liked the narrator and thought she brought the characters to life.

1 person found this helpful

A fun peak back from a new perspective.

This is a great companion to the As The World Dies trilogy. As a big fan of the trilogy, I got a big sense of satisfaction from the way this book allowed me to re-experience so many familiar scenes from new character perspectives. Questions were answered, stories were made richer. A+

1 person found this helpful

never read any of the books before this.

So I have never read these books before this one, that being said I really enjoyed it even without the background of the original books. I will have to pick them up the originals now. I got these free in return for an honest review once I finished them.

1 person found this helpful

Excited for more

This was the first novel by Rhiannon Frater that I have listened to. As I haven't listened to the actual series, I have nothing to compare it to. I will say this, I enjoyed the background stories on the characters and look forward to encountering them in the other books. They are good stories and I look forward to more of them.

1 person found this helpful

Great Listen

I really enjoyed this book. Kept me entertained Freon start to finish. Looking forward to listening/reading to more of Rhiannon’s books!

1 person found this helpful

Perfect for As the World Dies Fans

I really enjoyed learning the back storys of some of the other characters. Rhiannon really has a way of bring you into the world of these characters, not many others can do that. If you liked the main books you will love this!

1 person found this helpful

Other characters

this is a really good follow up to some of the other characters in the books. I really enjoyed getting to learn more about Eric and his beginnings

1 person found this helpful

After 2 seconds I tried to return it

I downloaded this after reading the really good first book in her series "As the world dies" on the recommendation of a review there. But I immediately heard that the recording was of less quality than those books. I am not sure if it was just my download, but there was background static noise when she spoke and some repeats in some parts. In the second story it seemed like the narrator was speed reading. 2 seconds into the first story I thought, what a big mistake, its going to be full of the romance nonsense that I didn't like from the main series.

So I shelved this book and continued with the series until I finished it. But it does give some background info on some of the secondary characters so you may want to read this before book 2 of the series since many new characters are introduced there and it fits the time line.

The last story, Erics is what made this book really good, and its by far the main story of this book, the others were insignificant in the time spent and I don't even remember the second one. Eric is stuck with his dog in a bed and breakfast, and his girlfriend took his car and abandoned him (good riddance!). Much of the story is how he confronts the outbreak alone and isolated until all hell breaks loose and he, his dog and a girl try to make it to the fort from the main series. It has a funny part when he decides he has to save his own life and run away, leaving her behind, but he's so out of shape she catches up and runs past him!

The cover illustration is how they get stuck for weeks in a water tower with little food and almost no ammunition and then suddenly its revealed that he's carrying a "small" machete. *Facepalm*. Rhiannon Frater again reveals that her stories lack male aggression. I could have slashed all those zombie heads off while hanging from the ladder with a "small" machete. I wonder if she knows what a machete is.

So if you want to know how Lydia died, you need to get this. Hint: its NOM NOM NOM. If you're like me and don't care about lesbian love, you can get it for Erics story, its pretty good.

4 people found this helpful

Well done!

I had already read the original books a while back and jumped at the chance to listen to the stories. Great job by the narrator. She got into character and helped me immerse myself right back into this world. Now I’m reading the books again!!

Great

I really liked this book and can not wait to start the second one in the series. The characters were well thought out and there was lots of action from beginning to end. The narrator did a great job. The characters became real and at times you feel yourself pulling for them or wanting to smack them. Great addition to your library.

Didn’t take me long to get drawn in.

Not sure I would like this book, some reviews suggested it was for a younger age group. I’m 50, and found myself hooked quite quickly.
Already loaded up the second book, and looking toward to the listen.
Great zombie book with out the gore, nicely paced as well Recommend a listen.

Great

This is my first introduced to this author,enjoyed the story lines and characters and has got me interested in main series