Customer Reviews

Battle of the Network Zombies (Amanda Feral, Book 3)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

In the third installment of the Amanda Feral series Amanda is back, dirtier than ever. Her ad agency is on a downward spiral and her expense budget is in the toilet. In order to keep her condo and pay off her debt to the Reapers Amanda says yes to an opportunity to appear on a new reality show. Yet, things are never simple with Amanda and she finds herself in the middle of her very own murder mystery.

Amanda Feral books always makes me giggle and snort like kids do when they tell fart jokes. Battle of the Network Zombies was no different, it was funny, sarcastic, and disgusting. If you like crass humor with a side of wit, this series is for you.

Amanda and Wendy make a great crime solving duo even if when they seem to be at odds with one another. Gil once again provides comic relief and I found myself looking forward to his bits the most. He is definitely my favorite character of the series. Scott and Amanda's relationship was a pleasant surprise and I look forward to more of him in the next book (fingers crossed!).

The book started off a bit slow for me, but the plot picked up the pace once wood nymphs started dying and the crazy character parade began. Amanda even shows signs of unexpected personal growth, proving her heart isn't rotted out after all. Battle of the Network Zombies is another snort out loud story of zombies with killer fashion sense by Mark Henry. Fingers and toes crossed that Amanda Feral's story doesn't end here. Oh and the best part? Battle of the Network Zombies is only FREE for your kindle at Amazon right now. Go on, get the rest of the series too, you know you want to.

Finally, a Paranormal book that is different from all the rest. Yes, it is crass, snarky, disgustingly candid and vulgar...but all in a GOOD way (I swear). It is also hilarious, well-written, and most importantly - original.

I never realized what I was missing in paranormal books until I read this series: A main character that doesn't feel bad about eating. I swear, I am sick to death of main characters feeling bad about having to eat humans. If you think about it, it is almost realistic if zombies really existed. Why is it that in other books the only ones that don't have food issues are the bad guys? The heros/heroines almost always have to overcome feeling guilty about needing blood or whatever else they eat. Love it that this one doesn't.

Another thing...of course parts of the book are gross. The main character is a freaking zombie and zombies are dead...hence the rotting and finding ways of dealing with it. I will give a tip to readers: If you don't like cussing you won't like this book. If you want your characters to have empathy you won't like this book. If you think that stuff is hilarious, like I do, then read away because it is FANTASTIC. Good job, author man!

. . . then this book isn't for you. Or me, for that matter. I thought I could handle it, since zombie books are generally high on my to-read list. However, I couldn't get past the first few chapters. It was too crass and disgusting for me. Even just skimming the book buried the needle of my grossometer.

The author's a good writer though. He can depict incredibly vivid scenes, and he's got quite the knack for finding just the right word. So if you can stand the content, you'll probably very much enjoy his style.

Would I reread this book? Never. Ever.

Would I spend money on this book? Nope. Wouldn't even borrow it from the library.


Kindle info
Formatting: very well formatted
Length: 5024 locations, or 5269 locations if you include the footnotes. Footnotes in a fiction book, chuckle.

BATTLE OF THE NETWORK ZOMBIES (Amanda Feral Book #3)
MARK HENRY
Urban Fantasy

Rating: 4.5 Enchantments

Celeb zombie Amanda Feral seems to be having a stream of bad luck. Between her car getting repossessed in the parking lot of her mother's strip club; her relationship with Scott breaking up (all his idea) and Elizabeth Karkaroff wanting to get out of the business, which means Amanda would owe her a staggering sum of money she doesn't have, not to mention she owes the reaper her first born, if she'd have one. But there might be a way out of all of this mess. Amanda can't stand Johnny Birch, the weird little wood nymph, but if being a judge on his new reality show will save her, what's wrong with that? Until she discovers Johnny's charred body on the floor of his room and suddenly the show's no more. With some quick thinking on her part, Amanda turns the show into a whodunnit and she's the lead detective, which would be great if she'd ever been a detective before.

What do I like best about the latest in Mark Henry's 'Amanda Feral' series? Hard to say, between the gruesome and sometimes macabre scenes and characters, not to mention all the dark humor, with every scene sometimes so gruesomely detailed, it's hard to pick just one. But perhaps it's Amanda herself, with her sarcastic barbs and outlook on life, especially dark in this particular tale. And who can forget the footnotes, where Amanda talks straight to the reader?

BATTLE OF THE NETWORK ZOMBIES brings the reader back into Amanda's life and she's just as delightful as ever, as are her two good friends Wendy and Gil. Hands down, one of my favorite scenes in the book is when Amanda first arrives at the mansion where the reality show is set to be filmed. Thanks to Johnny's woodland nymph nature, the place is literally alive with vegetation. Amanda meets the unusual Mama Montserrat, who takes an instant liking to her, and an instant dislike to Wendy, who's tagged along on the trip, posing as Amanda's agent.

The fun really begins when the contestants are introduced, a handful of wanna-be bodyguards you'd never imagine. I especially enjoyed some of the new characters Mr. Henry brings to the mix in this one, from Mama Montserrat, the producer of the ill-fated Johnny Birch reality show and possible suspect in Johnny's demise to Hairy Sue, the unusual stripper from Amanda's mother's club and a surprising contestant on the reality show. Who would have figured her for the role of bodyguard? Filled with some memorable characters, including my new favorite Tanesha, and a heck of an unusual mystery, readers looking for something a little dark and twisted won't go wrong picking up BATTLE OF THE NETWORK ZOMBIES.

Mark is the co-founder of both The South Sound Algonquin writer's group in Washington and the highly regarded (and/or degraded) League of Reluctant Adults, an online cabal of disturbed urban fantasy and paranormal romance writers. He's a member of the Pacific Northwest Writer's Association and the Fangs, Fur and Fey online writer's community. Visit him online at [...].


Lisa
Enchanting Reviews
January 2010

As a child, Saturday mornings meant a big bowl of Lucky Charms and cartoons. I was a huge fan of Bugs and Friends. That's no-brainer. However, there was another early morning favorite...Scooby Doo. I loved trying to solve the mystery before the rubber mask was pulled off to reveal the dastardly culprit. Mark Henry's Amanda Feral series is replacing that empty spot in my adult (notice I didn't say grown-up) heart.

I must come clean early and say that Battle of the Network Zombie is my least favorite so far. I'm not saying that it is a bad story; I liken it to a 20 point effort from Kobe Bryant. For most players, that is a good game. For Kobe...not so much. Mr. Henry set the bar high with his first two books and I just feel that Battle of the network zombies didn't clear the height that he set by his past efforts.

After saying all that, make no mistake, Battle of the Network Zombies is still fun. For zombie snobs (of which I count myself as a member) I remind you that this is not standard fare. It is rude, snarky, and more than just a little nasty. Go into the series with an open mind. I would warn those easily offended, but seriously, we're zombie fans...'nuff said.

Amanda and her friends are facing several problems in this current adventure. It seems the nation's economic woes have filtered into the world of the supernatural as well. Lacking a comprehensive medical reform has taken its toll on the accident prone Amanda. Her boss, who may or may not be The Devil, is not pleased: that is the least of Amanda's problems. There are rampaging stripper-yeti's, evil, pre-pubescent, ponytail sporting little girls with fowler disposition than Tony Soprano, Amanda's recently-turned-vampire mommy-dearest, a crazy voodoo woman...oh yeah, and a murder mystery.

Since the rules are fluid in the world Mark Henry has created, figuring out whodunit is a little bit wonky. The fun is watching over Amanda's shoulder as the misfortunes pile up. At times, it did seem as if the story tried too hard to be necro-sexy #1 and drifted away from the normal hilarity. I only laughed out loud once or twice while reading Battle of the Network Zombies. That is above average compared to most books I read that try to be funny, but for a Mark Henry story, that number does not measure up.

Bottom line, the book was good. Not great, but good. I will still wait anxiously for the next installment. I have faith that Mr. Henry will not disappoint. Taste is a personal thing, and there just seems to be something missing. The story elements are in place for further misadventures, and I remain a fan of Amanda Feral. I still recommend the book, just not as highly as the first two.

#1Bing! Coined it! Readers of the series will understand. And really, if you're reading the third review and have yet to read book one...then I'm glad that you don't get the joke.

This book got me hooked from page 1. I would recommend this to anyone who likes urban fantasy!!

The third book in the Amanda Feral series knocks it out of the park. Granted once you are done with it you will never want Corn on the Cob again and you will seriously reconsidering hibachi, but I stand behind how much fun this book was. Definitely not for those of weak constitution, it is a riotous, irreverent romp through the landscape of Seattle and Reality Television.

Through the American Minions show in which Amanda is playing "the Simon" we are introduced to a number of characters. Each one is a very unique personality and creature. It is like episodes of Big Brother, Toddlers and Tiaras, and Intervention all mashed up into one glorious show with the snark already included in for you! What's not to like?

Also at the end you are given a short story of Amanda's youth before she became a member of the Living Dead. It is a rather disturbing look into why Amanda is as damaged as she is. (Here's a hint: it has nothing to do with her being dead).

Stylish Amanda Feral has found herself with a bit of a problem - lack of funds. To keep her zombie self in the height of fashion takes work, and money. Even more important than her designer clothes is her body, which takes work to keep the scratches, gashes and body parts all intact. When a zombie gets a boo-boo it doesn't heal, and they must turn to the reapers to patch them up, which comes with a high price tag. The reapers want payment - now. Amanda's advertising firm took a turn for the worse when it was discovered that their new product, Necrophilique contained large amounts of fecal matter - not too attractive to prospective buyers.

All is not lost though - the resourceful Amanda has been invited onto a supernatural reality show, American Minions. Seeing the potential for a lot of money to be made, she reluctantly agrees. Wendy wiggles her way on the show as well, and the two of them get a little more than they bargained for when the host of the show turns up dead. Refusing to admit defeat (and just a little scared of the reapers) Amanda and Wendy take over the camera.

Meanwhile, Gil is battling a "gift" that a fellow lover left for him (involves painful urination, something Gil hasn't done for decades) and Amanda and her sexy werewolf lover Scott find their relationship on the rocks. Amanda has plans to win him back - never underestimate a zombie on a mission.

Battle of the Network Zombies is the third installment in the Amanda Feral series and again, a wonderfully witty, fun book. Amanda must deal with her lack of money and her rotting body. For as snobby and stylish Amanda is, her body is a rotting time bomb. Any damage her body receives, even as little as a scratch, does not heal. So she is at the mercy of the reapers to fix her up, and that costs money. I love the contradiction to Amanda who is so fixated on looks and so quick to judge, yet underneath her designer duds is skin so pale and grey, and rotting breath. She accepts being a zombie full force, yet, she really does have to deal with disgusting issues.

Her relationship with Scott goes much deeper in this book, as he decides he has had enough of her shallow attempt at a relationship. When Scott walks away, Amanda dare I say, is sad. She realizes what she lost and is determined to get him back. Their love story is sweet in this book, and I found myself rooting for them to get back together.

Wendy and Gil round out the trio. Wendy is still battling her chocolate addiction and is there to support Amanda in her own special way. Gil is also looking for love, although his recent lover gave him more than he bargained for, he finds someone in an unlikely time.

In the past month, I have read all three books in the Amanda Feral series and I have enjoyed them so much. They bring something different to the urban fantasy genre, and I really hope we have not read the last of this great series.

Mark Henry's demented zombie Seattle takes on the author's other favorite brain-eater: reality tv.

Henry's urban fantasy continues to be envelope-pushing with the raunchy humor and, well, raunchier humor. By book three, when we've come to accept Amanda Feral as a person that really should have been a zombie long ago, we see new depth to the character. Not necessarily clean, clear or any sort of depth we'd want to see, mind you. Her interactions with her now undead mother really bring different layers to light.

The new, more cartoonish, cover art doesn't really appeal to me, but in some ways it's probably a better match for Henry's humor than the romance-like covers for Happy Hour and Road Trip.

Anyone could wade right into this book, like wading into Ethel's gentleman's club in the first chapter (wear rubber boots), but new readers might find Happy Hour of the Damned (now out in mass market paperback) a clearer starting place.

Not all zombies are disgusting creatures as depicted in the Night of the Living Dead saga. Take Seattle's Amanda Feral for instance; she is beautiful using makeup to cover rot like hiding acne, but when a part gets too nasty she can turn to the reapers who for an exorbitant fee (will health care reform cover this) will fix the blemish. Since her ad agency tanked thanks to a client who created a product that flopped once the public knew what is made of, Amada's "agent" Wendy KlarKaroff arranged a meeting with the despicable wood nymph Johnny Birch for some needed publicity by appearing on his reality TV show.

Johnny's new show "Minions Mansion" is overloaded with "guests" who hate him. When someone threatens him, he plans two hire a body guard from one of the contestants on his show. Amanda becomes a judge on Minions Mansion and is one of the first people to find his corpse inside his locked safe. Many of the crew including the judges had strong motives to incinerate Johnny, but Amanda fears the killer will strike again; yet her warning is ignored as everyone assumes Johnny deserved to die and prefer Happy Hour of the Damned.

Somewhat chick-lit comedy, Amanda's latest urban fantasy amateur sleuth (see Road Trip of the Living Dead) is a unique reading experience as Mark Henry gives the zombie treatment to reality TV. Amanda is perfect for pulling off the satire with her sidebar commentary about life as a zombie diva which is expensive because image is everything and she must have expensive make-up and a classy wardrobe and she hope the publicity of being a judge will get her some clients for her ad agency. Fans will enjoy this refreshingly something different as Amanda judges the undead as deadly, but her philosophy is to die with your makeup on. The audience will like the switch from a reality show to a mystery who-done-it, which Amanda hopes to solve.

Harriet Klausner