Rise Again

A Zombie Thriller

By: Ben Tripp

Narrated by: Kirsten Potter

Length: 16 hrs

Publisher's summary

Forest Peak, California. Fourth of July. Sheriff Danielle Adelman, a troubled war veteran, thinks she has all the problems she can handle in this all-American town after her kid sister runs away from home. But when a disease-stricken horde of panicked refugees fleeing the fall of Los Angeles swarms her small mountain community, Danny realizes her problems have only just begun—starting with what might very well be the end of the world. Danny thought she had seen humanity at its worst in war-torn Iraq, but nothing could prepare her for the remorseless struggle to survive in a dying world being overrun by the reanimated dead and men turned monster. Obsessed with finding her missing sister against all odds, Danny’s epic and dangerous journey across the California desert will challenge her spirit... and bring her to the precipice of sanity itself.

Filled with adventurous human drama—and shocking inhuman horror—Rise Again marks a vivid and powerful fiction debut.

©2011 Ben Tripp (P)2012 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Danny's journey through a land of death to find [her sister] Kelley makes for a remarkable character-driven story, and the final sentence takes it to another level." ( Library Journal)

Great starter audio book

Where does Rise Again rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is the first so I have high hopes for the others

What did you like best about this story?

the way that you came to love the characters

What about Kirsten Potter’s performance did you like?

She was able to convey the strong female protagonist very well

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

yes but unfortunately I couldn't

Any additional comments?

I am excited about the other books I have in my wish list :D

Pretty good Z-book.

What about Kirsten Potter’s performance did you like?

It was odd listening to a female read some fairly horrific gory details, but since the hero of the book is a female, it grows on you quickly and "fits". I would not go out of my way to listen to her on other books like I do with Ray Porter, but she still did a good job of keeping character voices straight and is not monotone at all.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Definitely laughed a few times, and the girlfriend got a little queasy at a few parts with the graphic detail of the gore.

Any additional comments?

Good book. Fit into the major stereotypes of the genre but made it unique enough to stand on its own. The makeup of the group was interesting too, a lot different than the usual story. An alcoholic combat vet with severe PTSD, a bum, a vetrenarian, and a couple of interior designers with an alternative sexual orientation. Makes for a pretty funny combination.

Second read through!

I enjoyed this story a lot the first time I listen to it. I re listened before starting the second book and enjoyed just as much. Takes a bit of a different spin so that was fun. The female lead was not a girly heroine at all!
I hope you enjoy this book too!

Wait for it.......

This book was phenomenonal! I am a HUGE zombie fan and sad to say, I was getting bored of the same old Zombie story. This one is different. Admittedly it started off slow for me and there were some characters that just got on my last nerve (Amy) but give it a chance, you will love the story as it has a different kind of zombie, one that will surely make this story to your top Zombie books! Enjoy!

Rise Again

All I’m going to say is the ending made my jaw drop. Like what in the world?!??? In the best way possible. I’m searching for the next in this series right now

Gives you your needed Zombie fix, but no more.

The story is original, great narraration, the inspired story, and the characters are fleshed out quite well. If you've already gotten through the first tier of MUST READ zombie books, then this shouldbe next on your list. WWZ, Day by Day Amrmageddon (series), Walking Dead, should be considered first tier.

The story is original, but I felt that it left something to be desired. The scope could have been much larger. Also, I did like the fact that most of the protagonists are from a small town, but i felt that that "small town" feel never really left. The story seemed confined, on the brink of greatness, but never quite crossing over. I know that sounds esoteric, but it's the best way I can describe it.

Overall, if you like Zombie stories, and you need a quick fix, go for this one!

Pretty good

What did you love best about Rise Again?

The story itself was pretty good.

What did you like best about this story?

Good storyline

Any additional comments?

Really did not like the main characters personality. This was not a love/ hate type either. The character was asexual, hardass, illogical and annoying all in one. I also found the paramilitary contractors to be old and over used. For some reason, hollywood, writers, authors , TV feels the need to make them out be mindless, steroid filled idiots. This is FAR from the truth and only hurts the storyline.

Good read

As far as zombie books go, this is definitely a good one. I love all things zombie and I was not disappointed with this story.

Wow...Dude can WRITE!!

This book was surprisingly well written. I enjoy a good zombie apocalypse book, no matter the quality; but this book was very well written! The characters are well drawn and believable. I am not a war veteran, so I cannot speak to the authenticity of the post combat emotions expressed by the protagonist, but I had no trouble suspending my disbelief. I cared what happened to the characters in this story.

This novel reminded me of the first time I saw "An American Werewolf in London" because it was simultaneously funny and really disgusting. As I was listening to the novel I alternated between expressions of disgust and laughter.

Kristen Potter, the reader, was well cast for this reading. She gave life to the characters and made them real and accessible.

Overall, I really enjoyed this audio book and would recommend it to any zombie fan, as well as folks who are just looking for a well written, fun, audiobook.

Dead on the Page

I'm a fan of zombie fiction, but Rise Again is not particularly well written. The first half is an absolute slog, with a meandering narrative full of non-events and plodding character busywork. I only kept listening out of obligation to the credit I spent.

The main character, for example, spends a lot of time ruminating about her sister or her opinions about things, but her thoughts are generally repetitive and dull. In fact, here's something I noticed while listening: Main character Danielle often "loses interest" in the topic at hand or the person she's talking to, right in the middle of the conversation. Once you notice it, you'll realize that Danielle loses interest in things over and over again throughout the entire book. The author seems to think that Danielle's lack of interest empowers her, but all it tells me is that if she's not interested in what's going on, then it's a fair bet that we aren't interested either.

Which brings me to my main gripe with the book. The author's writing style - and the story itself - lacks imagination. The story is serviceable, but I was never riveted. I never found myself hanging on the narrator's every word. The characters and locations and situations are not particularly creative or nuanced as written. The writing style gets the job done - and if you like zombies then there are plenty of zombies here - but that's about all Rise Again has going for it. Utilitarian writing and … zombies.

As for the main character, she doesn't have to be likable, but she should be at least be interesting. Danielle is rather dull. And she makes some ridiculous decisions in the story (at one point, with absolutely no proof, she tries to forcefully arrest a guy for murder in the middle of a zombie apocalypse). The author slants the narrative because he wants us to side with Danielle in these situations, but her actions are sometimes so silly that it's impossible. The result is an uneven main character that we never care much about.

The book comes in two downloadable parts. If you're going to listen, I would actually recommend skipping the first part entirely. You're not going to miss much, and though doing ths is not enough to save the story, the book only starts to realize its potential during the second half.