Shattered World

Broken World, Book 2

By: Kate L. Mary

Narrated by: Hillary Huber

Stranded in the middle of the Mojave Desert, surrounded by zombies, Vivian and Axl are sure they're facing the end. They meet a billionaire who's promised them safety and security, but it's almost too good to be true. Vivian hopes she'll finally be able to deal with the loss of Emily, her growing feelings for Axl, and the terrifying new world they're facing. But their sense of security is soon shattered when they discover the shelter isn't the utopia they thought it would be.

It seems the company that built the shelter decided to solve their financial problems by selling off provisions, which means the group has to find a way to get supplies. Or face starvation. And Vegas is the closest city.... With her feelings for Axl stronger than ever, Vivian volunteers to accompany him and a few others on a trip into one of the biggest tourist cities in the world.

Vegas is overrun with zombies, but there are other survivors as well. As the emotional baggage piles up, Vivian and Axl's bond grows, but it doesn't take long to realize that zombies aren't the only thing they have to fear.

©2014 Kate L. Mary (P)2015 Tantor

Critic reviews

"I like how Ms Mary was able to balance action, suspense, and horror." ( Mama Knows Books)

This is a Great Series!

(Carbon Copy of my review in the first book in the series)

Broken world and the rest of the books in the series (which I finished as well) is a great series I enjoyed the characters and the storyline and it never got boring. it was both realistic and feasible in terms of what an end of world zombie invasion might be like. I'll tell you what IF and when it does happen I'll refer back to what Axel and Vivian did to survive! I ain't joking lol

Props to the author for a well done enjoyable series!

Updated Review For Book 2:

Book 2 continues to amaze and continues the story where it left off from book one it just gets better from here. my original review that I posted on book one and copied above still applies.

Even better then the first book

Let me start by saying thank you for the human narrator. She is excellent. I am so pleased to have found this series. Wasn’t sure what to expect because I am not familiar with the author or the narrator. What a pleasant surprise. This book is very entertaining And aging. It held my attention throughout. This second book in the series was very good with a bonus of a little spice. Looking forward to number three.

Good series but…

I like this series, I’m actually on book 6 at the moment, but I have to write about a few things that bother me. Mostly the authors use of reoccurring themes or phrases. In the first two books it was a hundred uses of “my stomach dropped” “my gut churned” “my stomach flipped” “my gut roiled” and so on and so on and so on. I must have heard a variation of that phrase over 100 times and it got annoying. In book 4 and 5, whenever someone says “we made it!!” Or “we’re going to make it!” you realize after the 3rd use that they are not going to make it. Also that’s where every single (I’m not kidding) action scene involves a fall a trip or a misstep which inevitably leads to weapons skittering away. Over and over again. At least the stomach churning stopped.

Even Better as an Audio Book

As usual with Kate L Mary , the story is fabulous with unconventional , well developed and lovable characters. Great storyline, lots of drama , and some steamy bow chicka wow wow time . I read these years ago , and am now listening to them while I clean or work out. The narration is top notch and really fun. Now leave me alone, I have to listen to the next one

Interesting story

So they make it to the safe shelter with clean toilets and electricity, where we can get to know the characters and they can romance without pesky zombies in the way. Sometimes it's like reading my older sisters trashy romance books when I was little. Except now I fast forward through the sex scenes, can't be bothered with them now.

The strong side of this book are the characters and interpersonal relationships; brings a lot of depth to the book. The story also feels very different from other books, it keeps me engaged. Vivian is a tough girl, but she plays the secondary role, letting the brothers take point in the fight and relying on (or manipulating) their strength to lead the group. Hadley is a really like able character, this has me on edge because I worry she might die at any time.

Angus seems to be a simple character, but he is probably very complicated because his personality is sometimes in contradiction to his actions. Like how is Mitchell still alive after what he pulled in the last book? The Angus I've been told about wouldn't allow that. So he seems tough, but doesn't follow through. He also continues to make remarks to Vivian even after his brother and her are a known item. That's his brothers girl he is talking to. In front of his brother. This just doesn't happen. I think the author really needs to think carefully how to fit Angus in better. I'm just waiting for a big schism to happen.

Some plot stuff left me with my sexist thoughts about the author, like how they grabbed their packs and got stranded without food or ammo, left me wondering what they carry in their packs. Tissue paper? And the unintentionally funny, we can't drive this car, the windshield is dirty! (Axl wouldn't care about driving a car covered in zombie gore to save their lives.)

Narrator, goes without saying, excellent. Especially with so many characters.

I am critical of some aspects in this series, but I still give it 4 stars because it is still that good. The excursion the hospital was very exciting and the ending, oh my! Luckily I saw the next book is out!