Zombie Queen

By: Brandy Slaven, Mary Martel

Narrated by: Kelley Huston, Jeffrey Kafer

The beginning...
The beginning is always the best place to start when reflecting on what has been.
Thinking back on it, my life had been perfect.
Middle class girl in high school with a happy home life.
My life had been full of nothing but promise.
Life was good.
Everything was great.
And then my whole world went to shit. In one day.
The disease came first.
Then the dead.
It was a fight for my life every single day from the start. But I was different from all the rest.
I had heard my mother's screams while watching my sister become one with the undead. All the while feeling like there was absolutely nothing I could do to help them.
It killed me.
What’s more, it changed me.
I did everything I possibly could to survive on my own.
And then I learned how to survive with others.
By being their Queen.
Their Zombie Queen.
And by being the most feared woman they ever came in contact with.

This is a WhyChoose novel full of zombies, a sword wielding badass chick, and an army of dudes.
Recommended age 17+ due to content and language.

©2020 Brandy Slaven (P)2020 Brandy Slaven

Enjoyed this post apocalyptic RH standalone!

I love everything Brandy Slaven writes and this is actually my first read/listen of anything by Mary Martel (I have tons of her books and audiobooks in my library, but they definitely shot up in the queue)! I was pleasantly surprised by this read/listen because I am not a fan of zombies but I really enjoyed this story. I loved how strong Em was and how she slowly let her guard down after being on her own during these nightmarish times. I enjoyed the guys in this story as well, how different they were and how they tried to be there for for (despite being awkward and shy since they haven't dealt with a non-zombie woman in awhile haha). I liked the dynamic that was created and thought this story had a lot of potential. I think for me, the reason I couldn't give it a 5 star was because it felt like it ended suddenly. I didn't get the intimate moments/steps towards relationship with Em and some of the main guys. I felt kinda cheated in that respect, not trying to be harsh. I just got so invested in this story that when things finally looked up it was over but she hadn't cemented her harem by the end. If this was book 1 of a series or duet, then I would have given it 5 stars. But because of how it ended, I had to knock it down. I did enjoy it though; I think that is why I was so upset when my audiobook ended because I had gotten so invested ❤️

In terms of the narration, I thought both Kelley and Jeffrey did a fabulous job and I will be listening to more from them in the future. I thought each of them could improve their opposite sex voices, but that is my only constructive feedback. Solid 4.5 stars (rounded up because I enjoyed their inflections and their emotions were spot on when all the zombies were involved haha).

Too good, must have more!

What a great zombie read! Em is a badass, and her guys are great, Kemp is my favorite by far. I definitely want more of these guys, even though it has an ending that was all wrapped up it would be insanely amazing to have another book, with another crazy adventure and more steamy sexy moments to read with these characters. I seriously love these characters, and the narrators did a fantastic job bringing them to life! Anyway, I definitely recommend this book to anyone that enjoys a good zombie read and likes a little RH.

excellent!

I really really enjoyed this book!! Could not stop listening. Can't wait for the next one...

Love a good zombie bok!!

I received this audio book from the author for an honest review.

I have to say when I saw Jeffrey was a narrator, My heart SANG!! he narrates The Protectors by Teresa Gabelman and he MAKES IT!!! Kelley was a new voice for me. I enjoyed her voicing our heroine and thought she did a better job as the story moved along...maybe became more comfortable in the "voice" of Emerald??

I can’t even begin to tell you how amazing and crazy good this story is.  The first chapter will have you on the edge of your seat.  My heart was in my throat listening to Emerald tell you about the day everything changed for her.  If that chapter does not keep you totally enthralled, then when you hear the description of the life and surroundings Emerald has…I felt my skin crawling because it was so tense and so claustrophobic.  I was dying but in heaven dying!!  It was totally a good thing!

This book is so fast paced at times with so much action and then other times we are feeling the despair and fear of Emerald.  We know its been 16 months and we know she is sad, lonely and scared.  When the Sam appears I admin I was scared outta my mind because women aren’t treated the best in these worlds and Emerald knows this first-hand.  As the other guys start to show Emerald they are not the bad guys and can be trusted, we see her open up and hope beyond hope she had a safe place.  A Family to call her own.  Complete with a crazy Granny!!

The story is a lot of interpersonal relationships and dealing with the all the men and one Emerald.  But when Emerald makes some proclamations, I was like GET IT GIRL!!!  When our family is starting to come together and starting to find a rhythm, chaos finds them and its not even the crazy girl or the wild man who bring it home.

I loved the action and loyalty this family shows one another.  But sweet Baby Jesus if you ladies don’t write another book, Imma be broken.  I need some more time with some of the guys and Emerald.

Enjoyed this take on an apocalypse

I received a copy of this book from the authors for an honest review.

I have to start by saying I don’t read many zombie books but Brandy and Mary wrote it so I could not pass it up. Well and my BFF said I had to read it because it was amazing. Brandy and Mary did a great job and I enjoyed it so much. Em and her guys were amazing. Em is a kickass zombie slayer. She knows how to weld those swards of hers. She even has a thing or two to say to all these guys that end up invading her area. She does not need these men in her way or her space but they are persistent and refuse to let her do this on her own.

The Guys are great themselves. Each so different but get along like brothers well except Sam they all take a bit to warm up to him and trust him. Kemp what can I say he is such a roading man but when its just him and Em man do they steam things up even if its not in the shower. I like all the guys not sure I could choose just one.

If an apocalypse were to ever hit, I want to be with Em no way I could survive on my own. I love how Em could hold her ground no matter who it was she was up against. She was strong enough to make it through seeing what happened to her mother, sister and friend. When the swards needed to come out she never thought twice about it. The trust and loyalty Em and these guys have for one another was incredible.

This was fast pace, heart stopping, and packed with a ton of action. I found my heart racing and in a state of panic so many times during this book. I rally hope this story continues Mary and Brandy have me hooked on Em and her guys. I NEED more of Em and her guys.

Kelly Huston ams Jeffrey Kafer did a wonderful job keeping me in the moment of the story.

wonderful

I am so excited that this came out on audible. I absolutely love this book. The narrators did such a wonderful job. I was so happy that this was a dual narration which is always a plus for me. I felt the audio book brought the story to another level for me. This is going on my list of favorites to listen to again and again .

Zombie Queen

Okay this book was freaking awesome. I freaking love it. its has a bad ass, kick ass female character. that chick ain't afraid of nothing. she fights for what she believe and doesn't leave her new family behind. oh and let's not forget she has a whole shit load of fine ass men at her feet. I love her sassy ass. this book also has some really funny parts in it that had me busting a gut. this book was really good , I recommend you read/ listen to it. the narrator's did a really awesome job on this book. Good job guys for bring this book to life. I just wounder if there's going to be a book 2. because I want more of Em and her men.

This one gets the crown! Wow!

Emerald, always the shy girl no one noticed, until the virus, until the dead became not so much, until she found her inner badass and caught the attention of THEM, until she became THEIR Queen. Zombie Queen was something totally outside of my normal genre of choice, but I am so glad I listened to this well written, magnificently narrated delight! I really should have been horrified, but instead I fell totally in love with these unique, well drawn, well defined characters. I could just imagine them at the local bar knocking back a few, playing pool, getting into a brawl or three, and keeping the joint lively until the wee hours of the morning! They seemed that real! The writing was very good. The mental picture painted in parts was hysterical, in parts grotesque, in parts overwhelmingly sad, but at all times crystal clear and easily understandable, The narration, wow, the narration! These characters came alive in my headphones! The voicing choices, the timing, especially the comedic parts, and the emotion, omg the emotion conveyed, these characters saw hell, and that came through loud and clear. I really enjoyed this one! I am a new fan! Five stars!

I ended up being disappointed....

~Disclaimer: I received a free audiobook copy of this book~

The narrators do an excellent job. The fact that there were two folks doing the narration increased the immersion for me.

I like Emerald. She reads to educate herself, she still has some empathy for others and she has a realistic point of view (most of the time). I feel that Emerald is the only one we actually get to know in the story unfortunately.

I enjoyed the zombie interactions, they had a good amount of gore and intensity.

However, where this book really fails is in the romance department. Since this is a huge chunk of the book......well, lets just say I didn’t enjoy a lot of the content of this book. There is a lot of insta-lust in this book. Including in scenarios where it makes no sense. She is attracted to men that she thinks might rape and kill her and wants to jump them<spoiler> even when they have her trapped against her will. </spoiler> I would note I have no problem with polyamourous relationships and that isn’t what is the problem. Honestly, a lot of the flirtatious banter also was more cringey than witty.

The story goes heavy on the trope humanity is the real monster.

Good read, but not right for a standalone

This was such a great story, but it needed more time to develop the male characters. It wasn't so much "this was just so good I wish it wouldn't end" kind of deal. Its just, there was like no time taken to get to know most of the guys. This wasn't enough of an erotica to just not get to know the men in this story when theirs like six of them or so. I mean they each only get to monologue like once or twice before the book is just over. This kind of read is usually better over 2+ volumes, so you can understand their connections or get more from the story, if your going to have such little sexy time. A standalone just seemed premature and unfulfilling for this story, so I'm left feeling unsatisfied.