Kings of the Dead and Life on the Edge of Survival: A Book Review

*An e-book of this novel was provided by Permuted Press.

Author: Tony Faville.

Tony Faville's first novel Kings of the Dead has been re-released by publishers Permuted Press, with an additional 30,000 words added. Initially, "a cult hit" (Permuted) this expanded version puts readers in the heart of global epidemic, that leaves those infected remnants of their former selves. Released April 12th, Kings of the Dead simply cannot be put down. The book is entertaining by offering a thrilling situation, while Faville shows his gifted imagination. The finale is a little overdone, but throughout, this is one exciting ride through a PAW (post-apocalyptic world).

The main protagonist, Cole, sets out with his wife to a pre-planned location, after an H1N1 virus sweeps the world. Only a few dozen pages in and Cole is taking down a group of cannibals with other, well prepared survivors. The post-apocalyptic conditions have broken down some survivors to the point of inhumanity.

The believable action and scenarios begins here, with a Donner Party situation and soon, Cole is dealing with a world of living dead, who are classified as slow-movers and fast-movers. The gunplay in the novel is constant and if you are Canadian, like this reviewer, you might get the sense that there are some serious gun lovers south of the border, or a whole different culture associated with weaponry. Yet, Faville reminds us: "an armed society, is a polite society" (Pg. 228).

Faville strongly brings his personality into Kings of the Dead and the result is an imaginative, yet dangerous world. Cages of the undead - holding hundreds of vicious predators are introduced, along with a blood thirsty cult and even a human-like goat, added for humour. There are some interesting tales of mysterious government cover-ups and strange sprayings by unmanned Predator drones. As well, further tension is created when some of Cole's friends and comrades simply disappear. Their response is a little docile and somewhat unbelievable, but all of the themes within the book are wrapped up nicely for readers, in a thrilling read.

Writers should write about what they know. This is a saying that many writers have heard and in this novel, Faville takes these words to heart. His time in the United States Navy is applied to the more bloody situations, where Cole must use his medical background to save others. Kimmi is one character who is saved by Cole and her voice is the one that appropriately ends the novel. Further instances of Faville's knowledge are interlaced into the many, many descriptions of found guns and their use. This book reviewer has no doubt that Faville has a storage locker full of AK47s, M-4s, M-9s, M-16s, MP-5s and the dozen of other guns described in the book. And Faville is someone that you want on your side if a pandemic, like the situation described in the book, ever occurs.

Kings of the Dead is a heart-pounding good time, set in an adrenalin producing, zombie filled apocalypse! Already, Faville is working on his next novel, Slow Burn and fans of horror literature must pick up this title, for an action packed look at life on the edge, the edge of survival. More details on this novel can be found below.

Overall: 8 out of 10 (Faville's heart is in the pages and the honesty is appreciated, possibly for the survivalist, well-written, few grammatical errors, in-depth and exciting).

Author Tony Faville can be found at the Permuted Press here:

Tony Faville's Novel at the Permuted Press

Also, Tony Faville's Blog can be found here:

Tony Faville's Official Website

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Posted in: 2011,book review,h1n1,living dead,permuted press,post-apocalyptic,re-release,survival,undead,viral pandemic,zombie novel review