Special Dead

In this sequel to Twice Shy, Ani Romero is back but this time she has friends. Thanks to prom night, Ani's little secret is out and she's no longer the only zombie in her class. Her mother is still seeking a cure but, in the meantime, she has forced the school board to offer a class for Ani and her fellow zombies. Of course, they have to wear ankle chains and helmets with mouth guards, their teacher is terrified of them, and the cafeteria food still sucks but at least now they just have to pretend to eat it. But their presence at the school has brought out the crazies: some hate them, some worship them, and some just want to experiment on them. With all this going on, how will they ever find time for homework?

Having read the first in show more the series, I was looking forward to reading this sequel and it was definitely just as much fun. Ani and her friends are a likeable bunch and they work well together in warding off all their problems while controlling their cravings for deeelicious brains...or not! show less

Spoliers: what's wrong with this picture: teens in chains and armour, bussed in and taught in special classrooms with teachers fearful yet determined to enforce their rights - they are zombies, and Ani's mother thinks she is onto a cure in competition with a doctor who truly has another agenda. interaction among the students and Ani with her mother are authentic and affecting; their zombie condition thoroughly woven into their personalites and the life in school they lead. an old rivalry threatens to overwhelm them all and we genuinely are in their pitching. skillful development of tension, and full characters made this a pleasure to read, despite some sagging in the narrative now and then when we go through a relapse, and then complex show more (but actually straightforward) romance complications. this is second in a series, and i hope there will be more. show less

I was taken on a pulse-pounding journey into a world where the line between life and death blurs, and the living must fight to survive against the undead. Freivald masterfully combines elements of horror and thriller, delivering a story that is equal parts chilling and adrenaline-fueled.

The novel follows the protagonist, a young man named Matt, who finds himself thrust into a nightmarish scenario when a deadly virus turns his high school classmates into flesh-eating zombies. As the outbreak spreads, Matt must navigate a treacherous landscape of violence and chaos, relying on his wits and survival instincts to stay one step ahead of the undead hordes.

One of the book's strengths lies in its vivid and immersive storytelling. Freivald show more creates a palpable sense of tension and dread, keeping readers on the edge of their seats as they follow Matt's harrowing journey through a world overrun by the walking dead. The action scenes are expertly crafted, with adrenaline-pumping thrills that will leave readers breathless.

Moreover, "Special Dead" is more than just a tale of survival against the undead—it's also a story about friendship, resilience, and the strength of the human spirit. As Matt forms unlikely alliances and confronts his own fears and weaknesses, he discovers that the true measure of heroism lies not in brute force, but in compassion and sacrifice.

Some readers may find that certain plot points feel predictable or familiar within the zombie genre. Additionally, the novel's focus on action and thrills may come at the expense of deeper character development and emotional resonance.

It's a thrilling ride from start to finish, sure to satisfy fans of horror and zombie fiction. With its breakneck pacing, heart-pounding action, and engaging protagonist, Patrick Freivald has crafted a novel that will keep readers hooked until the very last page. show less

Wow! I didn't know where this book could go after the ending of the first book but great job! I'm so curious if there could be more. I really liked the direction of the story. It gave a different take on the traditional zombie story. The scientific explanation and legal issues were interesting but not too complicated for the reader. The writing is very well done and I found it hard to believe this was a male author. The protagonist was female and very believable.

I liked the characters and empathized with them. The people that were infected weren't "monsters" or hopeless cases but had a horrible medical condition. The different relationships were so complicated and interesting. Some people were torn between how they felt about those who show more were infected and how they are told to feel about them. Obviously there is extreme danger but the undead maintained their personalities, feelings and ambitions. How can they just be written off so easily by those who love them? I was very impressed by the relationship between Ani and her mother Sarah. They had a fierce, unconditional love and would do anything to protect each other. As the leading authority on ZV (Zombie Virus), Sarah has made it her life's work to cure and save her daughter and holds many secrets. There are authorities that are happy to exploit them and their very life hangs in the balance.

As in the first book I loved recognizing real places near where I live. It was creepy and exciting! This story also had plenty of action that led to another great cliff-hanger ending. Freivald has a talent for leaving the reader hungry for more. :D (Get it? I HAD to do it!)

Thank you to LibraryThing Early Reviewers for an arc ebook in exchange for my honest review. show less

I was given this book complimentary from LibraryThing.com in e-book form in return for my honest review. Everything stated in this review is of my own opinion and I was not compensated monetarily for providing this review.
I normally do not read zombie books - after reading several cookie cutter stories (1 month the virus has spread worldwide, father goes coast to coast to find his son/daughter) I was also worried about how not having read the first in the series would make following the story line difficult.
I was surprised - I really enjoyed the story and if there were half stars this would be 4½ Stars. Hard to write this and avoid spoilers but I found myself more and more interested in the characters as the story progressed show more especially the girls (not so much the boys as they were more like padding) Ani's mom was another interesting one and the ending for once was totally unexpected.
I am pleased that the social/political/religious issues were only briefly touched on as I feel it would have detracted from the story
A good read - if there is a sequel I hope it does not degenerate into a romance show less

Ani Romero has returned to high school, along with the classmates she infected with Zombie Virus. Amid court battles over zombie "personhood," these teens have been allowed to return, but to an isolated classroom nicknamed "Special Dead". This is the follow-up to Twice Shy, which I did not read. It doesn't matter, since Freivald deftly recaps the events from the first book.

The story, and the idea of courts having to decide whether zombies should retain full human rights, was very good. I think it could have really benefited from being told in the first person, in Ani's voice. The only "thought bubbles" we had were Ani's, no other character's, so it seems like Ani should have just told us the story herself. It would have ironed out some show more of the awkward passages, and would have helped make some of the seemingly extraneous action more meaningful. Part of me suspects that using the third person was a way of getting to call Ani's mom "Dr. Romero" as often as possible, but maybe that's the "Night of the Living Dead" fan in me.

Overall, I enjoyed the book, and would probably hand it to a teen zombie fiction fan. There's enough detail in the restrictions the zombies would live under that it makes a thought-provoking read. Who else in our society would we consider "other" enough to do this to?

This review is based on an uncorrected advance copy received from LibraryThing Early Readers. show less

Review Copy

Special Dead is a sequel to Patrick Freivald's debut novel, Twice Shy, the story of a High School student with the Zombie Virus. Twice Shy was not a book I was planning to read. When it was published in 2012 I had no idea what it was about, but then I was given an advance copy of Special Dead and thought it would be a good idea to read book one. I was pleasantly surprised. Great story, great read, and one of the best books I've read this year.

Following the Prompocalypse at the end of Twice Shy, Ani Romero is no longer the only non-living student at Ohneka Falls High School. It's a little more than a year since all hell broke loose at the prom and the courts are forcing the school to provide a classroom education to the show more Special Dead. They are essentially cut off from the rest of the school, forced to wear special helmets, leg-irons, guarded by men with flame-throwers and instructions to use them if needed. Yet, despite their situation, these kids struggle with the same desires, goals as issues as living high schoolers.

Freivald does an excellent job of using the Special Dead to expound upon current real world prejudices. "'I miss church,' Lydia whispered. She fiddled with the silver cross at her neck and looked at the clock. Ani followed her gaze. 11:00 am Sunday. It's hard to be a Baptist zombie. Especially when your preacher organized marches encouraging the government to send you to hell where you belong."

In the search for a permanent cure for the ZV, progress is being made, and then BANG. The writer provides more than a few, "Oh, WOW," moments and an ending I promise you won't see coming.

Special Dead is every bit as good as Twice Shy. The novel can stand on it's own, but I strongly recommend reading Twice Shy first. Both are available, right now, in multiple formats.

Highly recommended. show less