My Dead World

By: Jacqueline Druga

Narrated by: Vanessa Johansson

Length: 8 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's Summary

Since childhood Nila Carter has been made to spend every weekend at the family cabin. In her teenage years she believes it to be a prison; as an adult it becomes her sanctuary and means to survive.

When a mysterious outbreak occurs in India, Nila's brother, Bobby, a virologist with the CDC, places the family on a precautionary alert to be ready to bug out. Unlike anything he's ever seen, the rabies-like virus is not just deadly; it causes extreme violent behavior in those infected. Following her brother's advice, Nila begins to stockpile.

After months of preparing, just as it seems the virus is over, everything implodes, and Bobby tells his family to leave the city. With her family, Nila heads to the mountains and to her father's isolated land. There she is eventually joined by friends and strangers, all hoping to safely stay clear of the virus that grips the world. The plan is to wait until the virus burns out.

While there, the group forms a tight bond, feeling secure that they will beat the extinction event and in due course return home. As time moves on, Nila quickly learns there are things they cannot run from, and a virus is one of them. Despite how prepared they are, how secure the land, each day brings a new threat and a painful reality that not only is returning home a pipe dream, but the likelihood of all of them surviving is increasingly growing slim.

©2016 Jacqueline Druga (P)2016 Podium Publishing

UGH!

I soooo struggled with the female lead of this book. i mean she literally got almost her whole community killed with her doubts. it was so frustating when you have all the signs right in your face and you still ignore them.

I drive semis for a living so i listen to and spend A LOT of money on audiobooks. this one made me yell "DUH...OMG ARE YOU STUPID" all during 577 miles. i couldnt wait fiforr this book to end and i dont think ill be getting anything else from this author.

the narrator was AWESOME!

Pretty standard zombie story

If you’re looking for a run-of-the-mill zombie story, this is pretty much it. It wasn’t bad and it wasn’t great. It was an easy lesson. My only gripe is that the main character had the emotional attitude of a houseplant. She shows little to no emotion or normal response to pretty traumatic events. Surprisingly, this really took away from the story for me.

New favourite!

I've been looking (and spending far too many credits) for a new, exciting post apocalypse book. I found this one by chance and the synopsis plus narrator's voice made me give this a try.

This is so well written, with a fresh take on a really old subject. It’s so believeable and it really keeps you on your toes. I found the characters really likeable. I have to say the thoughts and emotions presented through out the books are really interesting and not found in other books like this that I have listened to.

Chapter 32 is probably one of the best chapters I've listened to. It had me bent over laughing.

Just try this. It's SO good and if you like Sarah Lyons Flemmings you'll no doubt like this one as well.

Whiny protagonist

You would think that the main character would at some point stop being a whiny woman who screws up everything, but no. Until the last minute the protagonist kept being an annoying, illogical, stupid person, getting everyone killed around her because of her idiocy.

Don't bother

The story was full of the main character making really stupid decisions. Very very disappointing.

Druga!

Druga rarely disappoints. My Dead World was another great listen. The story was well thought out and engaging, the narration was well done. I found myself hoping this would end up with a sequel, but the story is pretty nicely wrapped up. I've really come to appreciate Druga as an author. I would like to enjoy more of her work but I really did not take to Andrew Wherlen's narration and he narrates many of her stories. But not this one. It was a winner. Recommend!

Three

This lead character was an idiot. Totally not what I expected. I tried to continue reading in hopes that she would stand up but, no. I liked the story but, it was missing something. A good read for in between books. I will try again bc I love Druga.

It was free and still not worth it

The main character makes painfully stupid choices and endangers her whole family... over and over again.

Skip it

The main character is an idiot. She’s weak minded, timid and oblivious. Would not recommend.

mediocre

It was fine, not great, not bad. The main character is severely underdeveloped. The narrator didn't contribute much to her depth, either. The traumatic events were severely underplayed as if the main character had zero emotions.

surprisingly brilliant!

dont know why I expected little, no reason really just that it is new and hasn't had many ratings and I guess cos I dont really like reading zombie stuff as I always find it a silly concept and not very real. However, it's one of my favourite reads this year! The zombie thing was done well with realistic strategy that had rationale that made sense, and it was full of excitement and action, and twists and turns. lovable akd engaging characters that you get very attached to. you k ow I haven't cried reading a book in a few years but this pushed me over. wow. couldnt put it down akd will leap into book two without a pause. buy it! you'll love it!

Finally a zombie book without fetishist roads gangs!

I really enjoyed this take on the zombie genre. It felt refreshing and realistic. No superhuman heroes battling insurmountable odds, just normal people trying to survive.
There was plenty of atmosphere and tension which kept me listening and trying to find more time to listen. Both author and narrator knocked it out of the park. A female author, a female perspective, a female narrator make a superb combination in this genre which is often saturated with machismo and leather biker gang types.
Seemingly with all zombie stories there has to be characters making infuriatingly careless mistakes at crucial moments and this book has a few too but overall it is excellent and well worth listening to.

Weak and provoking in a bad way

Unfortunately a weak story with nothing to bring to the zombie genre. You’ve heard it all before. In this one we have indulgent, boring (and in my opinion stupid) characters (especially the main one with her shallow selfishness) and one of the most illiterate books I’ve ever read. Besides that, the absence of grief after loosing close ones made me wonder if the author ever lost a person or even a pet in her life.

Great short survival story

part of the new audible included plan so a great find, enjoyed characters and narration, a food 1 day listen

What a treat

I don't know what I expected but what I got was a well thought out, fast paced and interesting pandemic story. Current situation being as it is, I seem to have listened to many 'end-of-the-world virus' stories but this one really stood out for me. The story is considered and thoughtful, not trying to be too shocking and always maintaining a level of humanity amongst the main players. A very, very clever to get a listener invested in the characters as book 1 is included in the Audible Plus Catalogue and now I shall be buying book 2 and 3. A really excellent book

Very good!

Good storyline, good characters and plot line. If you like post apocalyptic series you should enjoy this.

First Person zombie, focusing on the person

No gratuitous zombie wars, a tale about a woman and her family during a virus outbreak. Granted the virus does create Zombies but the focus isn't about the Zombies but more about family, heartbreak and survival.

Thoroughly enjoyable

free and excellent

Great listen, surprisingly good. excellent narrator and an original take on a common theme. recommended.

Surprisingly brilliant

I would highly recommend this book, a story you can get your teeth into, action that keeps you on your toes, real life and emotional yet not soppy and it makes you think.
I had no idea what this was about, sure I read the synopsis before buying but it wasn't memorable by the time I came to listen. I'm glad the synopsis was brief or may not have bought it. Without spoiling it for others, I'd say it's a rare gem and despite the bare bones of the story being about something I'd usually show no interest in, it was so well written and read that when the book finished I was glad to see there is a second and a third! If your sceptical then give it a go.

Good book

This was a good book. Finally found a book that wasn't full of gratuitous sex and swearing.
Well presented.