Author: Lia Habel
Expected Publication: September 25th 2012 by Del Rey
Genre: YA Paranormal
Source: Provided by the publisher...
Goodreads
Can the living coexist with the living dead?
That’s the question that has New Victorian society fiercely divided ever since the mysterious plague known as “The Laz” hit the city of New London and turned thousands into walking corpses. But while some of these zombies are mindless monsters, hungry for human flesh, others can still think, speak, reason, and control their ravenous new appetites.
Just ask Nora Dearly, the young lady of means who was nearly kidnapped by a band of sinister zombies but valiantly rescued by a dashing young man . . . of the dead variety.
Nora and her savior, the young zombie soldier Bram Griswold, fell hopelessly in love. But others feel only fear and loathing for the reanimated dead. Now, as tensions grow between pro- and anti-zombie factions, battle lines are being drawn in the streets. And though Bram is no longer in the New Victorian army, he and his ex-commando zombie comrades are determined to help keep the peace. That means taking a dangerous stand between The Changed, a radical group of sentient zombies fighting for survival, and The Murder, a masked squad of urban guerrillas hellbent on destroying the living dead. But zombies aren’t the only ones in danger: Their living allies are also in The Murder’s crosshairs, and for one vengeful zealot, Nora Dearly is the number one target.
As paranoia, prejudice, and terrorist attacks threaten to plunge the city into full-scale war, Nora’s scientist father and his team continue their desperate race to unlock the secrets of “The Laz” and find a cure. But their efforts may be doomed when a mysterious zombie appears bearing an entirely new strain of the virus—and the nation of New Victoria braces for a new wave of the apocalypse.
Lia Habel’s spellbinding, suspenseful sequel to Dearly, Departed takes her imaginative mash-up of period romance, futuristic thriller, and zombie drama to a whole new level of innovative and irresistible storytelling.
That’s the question that has New Victorian society fiercely divided ever since the mysterious plague known as “The Laz” hit the city of New London and turned thousands into walking corpses. But while some of these zombies are mindless monsters, hungry for human flesh, others can still think, speak, reason, and control their ravenous new appetites.
Just ask Nora Dearly, the young lady of means who was nearly kidnapped by a band of sinister zombies but valiantly rescued by a dashing young man . . . of the dead variety.
Nora and her savior, the young zombie soldier Bram Griswold, fell hopelessly in love. But others feel only fear and loathing for the reanimated dead. Now, as tensions grow between pro- and anti-zombie factions, battle lines are being drawn in the streets. And though Bram is no longer in the New Victorian army, he and his ex-commando zombie comrades are determined to help keep the peace. That means taking a dangerous stand between The Changed, a radical group of sentient zombies fighting for survival, and The Murder, a masked squad of urban guerrillas hellbent on destroying the living dead. But zombies aren’t the only ones in danger: Their living allies are also in The Murder’s crosshairs, and for one vengeful zealot, Nora Dearly is the number one target.
As paranoia, prejudice, and terrorist attacks threaten to plunge the city into full-scale war, Nora’s scientist father and his team continue their desperate race to unlock the secrets of “The Laz” and find a cure. But their efforts may be doomed when a mysterious zombie appears bearing an entirely new strain of the virus—and the nation of New Victoria braces for a new wave of the apocalypse.
Lia Habel’s spellbinding, suspenseful sequel to Dearly, Departed takes her imaginative mash-up of period romance, futuristic thriller, and zombie drama to a whole new level of innovative and irresistible storytelling.
-- My Rating --
-- My Thoughts --
Before I start, I have to remind you that I was not paid, in any way, to write a positive review of this book. The ideas expressed in this review are my honest feelings, nothing is biased.REMEMBER this review is a spoiler if you haven't read the first book in the series, Dearly, Departed (check out my review here). Now, for the review
Let's get right down to it...
After facing enemies and fighting for their love, Nora and Bram are finally settling down. Only if you call Nora's father (and the society) breathing down their neck, settling down. They think it's too good to be true, and they are right.
Evil is lurking in the shadows of New Victoria. A group of Victorians called The Murder ,wear bird-masks and gruesomely kill every zombie they encounter. A group of zombies called The Changed, are using strange ways to provide food and shelter for the poorer zombies. A new strain of the virus is out, much worse than the first. No one is safe anymore in New Victoria...
Who are The Murder and The Changed? Who released this new strain of the virus? Will this apocalypse let Nora and Bram have a taste of true love? Find out much more when you read this beautifully intriguing, professionally constructed novel, Dearly, Beloved.
I ADORED this book! Like, truly loved every part of it! As I have said in my review of "Dearly, Departed", the first book, Lia Habel is a pro in writing. She has made zombies charming, emotional and relate-able! Can you imagine how much work should be put in a novel for readers to feel this way? Probably not.
The world building is exceptional, it's like nothing you have ever read before. Lia Habel throws you into a time machine and sends you into the future. A future that you will never want to leave!
The characters are the BEST ever! There are very few authors who make you feel SO MUCH for the characters, Lia Habel was one of them. Nora is sarcastic, funny, and challenging, I love her so much! Her best friend, Pamela is equally lovable but she has a cute sense of insecurity. These two are very relate-able and realistic. Now, for the boys. OH, the boys. Bram is protective and this jealousy of his, is oh-so-adorable. He is every girl's dream. His friends, Tom and Ren are both three-dimensional and very much like-able.
I felt like this book didn't concentrate so much on Nora and Bram like the first book. It was much more about Coalhouse (Bram's friend) and Laura (one of The Changed). I truly felt for both of them, and to watch how their love-hate relationship grow was so realistic and exhilarating! I can't wait to see what will happen to them in the next book.
I know I have made this review too long, and if you have stick with me so far, you are truly AWESOME!
This book is much more action-packed and mysterious than the first book. In the first book, this zombie-apocalypse was new and most of the book was about how the characters dealt with it. But in this book (the second book), the characters are thrust into a whirl-wind of action, mystery, and gruesome secrets. It is much more enjoyable that the first, that's why it received 5 stars from me!
This book is one of the most unique and enchanting books I have ever read! No matter how old you are, if you are 15 or 50. No matter where you live, if you live in New York or in an unknown city in Siberia. No matter what you believe in. This book will be enjoyable by EVERYONE and ANYONE. This series, Dead by The Respiration is one of a kind.
I would recommend this book to anyone out there who is ready (and willing) to be thrown into a roller coaster of desires, love, secrets, and of course, the undead.
