Thunder and Ashes (Z.A. Recht's Morningstar Strain)

If there is one thing "Thunder and Ashes" taught me it is this: Don't trust reviews.
Although this was toted as being better than it's predecessor and as an "action packed zombie extravaganza" this book was, in essence, nothing more than a rehash of it's prequel "Plague of the Dead" only worse (if that can even be possible).
While "Plague of the Dead" was enjoyable (albeit unoriginal and somewhat cliched) "Thunder and Ashes" was just flat out bad.Characters have devolved, the story has shattered and the virus has become far less scary.
What people find so great about this and Recht's other works, I have yet to find out because, quite simply, "Thunder and Ashes" was nothing new or even remotely exciting in the usually great zombie genre. Of course, Recht's vision of the shamblers and sprinters was interesting to say the least, but they were such a small part and lacked such an integral part that they really aren't even worth considering...plus their actions and mannerisms were displayed in the first book, so again, nothing new.
Back are Recht's uncreative character names, often paired with one another so that it gets incredibly confusing as to who is doing the actual talking. Mason and Marc, Krueger and Keaton, Decker and Derrick, etc etc. Not to mention the annoyingly stereotyped Thomas and basically stupid Brewster,the bizzare rouge agents Sawyer and Derrick who are more interested in capturing Anna and MAson than in actually saving the world, and then there is the title "Thunder and Ashes" which has absolutely NOTHING to do with the story. I suppose the ashes could refer to the firebombed cities the survivors encounter, but still, it takes a rather large imaginative stretch to come to that conclusion. There is also the many times where an idea is addressed and never brought back to life (What will Sherman do with the Semtex? Where did the raiders come from? What will happen to Ron, Jack and Katie? And probably the most glaringly annoying question: Where the hell is Sawyer?) And finally, the conclusion in this novel was so cookie-cutter and happy go lucky that I felt let down and cheated out of 300 pages of my time.
I give this book 2.5 stars for one reason and one reason only: the action scenes were vivid and intense and kept my interest, but other than that, I have to state that I was severely disappointed in this zombie novel. Yes, it's good to have in my collection, but no, I don't really recommend it or even suggest you read it.

I decided to wait until all three books were released before reading any of these and I am glad that I waited.

I for one do not understand all the negative reviews. To me this is a great story. While it isn't the best zombie story out there it's by far better than most of the stuff that floods the genre.

Some have talked about the characters and their being shallow. I didn't have a problem with this in the first book or this one. Like I said in the review of the first book, I have grown to care about these characters.

And again, like I said in the first review, this is more a story of a group of people striving towards one goal. Putting an end to the strain.

There isn't as much over the top zombie action that most books have but I think this is just one of the things that, so far has set this series apart.

I recommend giving this series a try if you are a zombie fan.

RIP: ZA RECHT

I really enjoyed Plague of the Dead. While not particularly original, Recht demonstrated a genuine talent for action and suspense, and created a vivid zombie scorched earth that made his characters' fear seem real.

Unfortunately I didn't feel the same about Thunder and Ashes. Firstly, Recht's prose came across like a fan-boy describing his Call-of-Duty gameplay. Where Plague had skilful plainspeak, Thunder and Ashes, came across as an early draft of a good manuscript with lots of lazy 'tell' exposition and phrases like 'sniping away'to describe gun battle, which gave the book a silly tone which didn't match the setting.

I guess Thunder and Ash does suffer from middle book sag, a difficult trend to avoid given that the book is not only a sequel but a second book in a trilogy, thus needing to save some epic-ness for number three. Nonetheless I found the characters and plot fell unacceptably flat. Recht relies on us remembering who everyone is, some would say this is OK in a sequel, but I argue that sequel characters still need to 'show' their character throughout the story even if they have already been introduced.

while there is a small amount of character development, for the most part I found it difficult to tell the difference between the 'slightly bad-ass soldier types' populating this novel and even more difficult to care too much about their fate.

The storyline feels like a few challenges were thrown at the characters but nothing nearly as epic at the first novel, and - I hope - what is to come in number three.

Don't get me wrong, there are still epic and tense battles, but like the Matrix sequels without being surrounded by a strong plot and characters exciting action couldn't bring this novel above 2 stars for me

Another great book from the late, great Z. A. Recht a real shame to lose this author. Great book and now easy to find!

Probably my least favorite book of the series but still very good.

The first two books of this series are really fantastic. No not read the third.

Bought for the boyfriend after he loved the first book

This is the 2nd of three in the series. I strongly recommend the series to any fan of the Zombie apocalypse genre.

I just finished reading this and am a few pages into the third book. I'm already frustrated with Survivors but that's because there is a character i really hate and all the characters he works with and manipulates. I wish he'd die already and be dropped from the plot so the story can take on different directions. That being said, Thunder and Ashes was amazing. I thought it was better than Plague of the Dead. In Plague of the Dead it took awhile for the book to pick it up and get interesting and going. Thunder and Ashes is pedal-to-the-metal from start to finish. It was really hard putting it down.
The reason for this though is because it isn't a sequel in the traditional sense. Not like Jurassic Park or Jaws type sequels but like Kill Bill. Just one long story broken into three parts. Thunder and Ashes starts out fast because it pretty much picks up where the last one left off. Yeah a few weeks-months take place between books but it is the same plots and same goals of the same characters. I don't mean that as a bad thing...like I said, it was hard to put down and I knocked this one out in half the time I did the first one--and this one is only a few pages shorter.
I'll have to see where Survivors goes. Right now I'm not too happy but I'm only 4 pages in so we shall see. I felt the same way when I started the first one. The email format of how Plague started just annoyed me right away, but it turned out to be a good read. Here's to keeping an open-mind and staying hopeful!

This is a whole different type of series on plague apocalypse and it is very well written.