The Risen – Dawning  by Marie F Crow

Paranormal Fiction/Romance (Kick Ass Zombie Novel)

Blurb:

Helena Hawthorn has lived her entire life in the dark shadow of her perfect younger siblings, The Hawthorn Angels. Now as the world awakens to a new horror, she will have to risk everything to keep them safe or forever be haunted by the failure to keep them alive. Each day will bring a new victory, or a new scar, as Helena learns that the dawn waits for no one.

With her newly bonded family, the local motorcycle club G.R.I.T., they will discover the world now holds much deeper horrors for them than they could have ever imagined. The Risen not only stalk the earth but stalk their nightmares as well.

Review:

Grade: A+

I don’t often give A+’s for book reviews, because honestly, it takes a lot for me to think a book couldn’t be a teeny, tiny bit better. A’s are wonderful, well written, interesting books, but A+ means, it has no fault in my eyes.

The Risen: Dawning is an A+ book for me for numerous reasons.

Marie F. Crow has an outstanding writing talent and a unique voice to her novel. The introverted thoughts, along with the fabulous descriptive writing kept me tied into the story from the moment I started. I felt how the characters felt, I smelled what the characters were smelling. Marie has an unbelievable talent for involving all 5 senses into her writing that few authors today do.

Zombie novels are a dime a dozen, and it’s almost comical how many there are. We lost the innate fear that zombies have the power to create. But not in this book; this book harkens back to a George A Romero zombie movie, a classic. Not in the plot, but as a real horror story, giving us chills, and sticking with us. Filling our minds with the wonderfully created terror that oh so few authors have the ability to grasp. She gives us the gore that so often has been ignored. Zombie and gore go hand in hand, and I’m glad to see a author who truly understands that.

She manages to interweave horror, humor, and a bit of romance is a way that’s natural, progressive, and interesting. There’s nothing in this novel that hits you over the head, no cliché scenes. Marie takes the zombie novel and elevates it into a movie for the mind. Every detail is there, each description is alive, but not overly wordy.

The character development of Helena as a character was also exciting and painful all at the same time. She has to wipe away years of resentment in a single instant, making decisions based on gut. She’s a strongly written, well described character. She has heart, a bit of humor, and a multitude of thoughts that help us really get into her character and sink into the story.

I’ve seen the reviews on Amazon for this book, and if you do not enjoy original thoughts, wonderfully well written stories, with lush descriptions, then fine, don’t buy this novel. It’s your choice and we can respect that.

In my opinion, saying that this novel isn’t worth the 2.99 price is a travesty. Readers who want to see new things, to be brought into a whole new world, experience great writing that uses wonderful description can be assured The Risen: Dawning is a great choice. I honestly loved it, and thought that it was a fresh take on zombies with a unique and not unwelcome writing style. Some may say it’s wordy, but I think it’s perfect.

I plan to buy the paperback and hunt the author down to get it signed, because this belongs on my real bookshelf, not just my kindle shelf! 🙂

** I was honored to have been given a copy of this novel, to read, and review honestly. All opinions are my own. I stand behind my comments.

If you’d like to delve into the world Marie F. Crow has created, check out her book on Amazon, and interact with her on Facebook, or Goodreads!