The City

Autumn #2

by David Moody

A bastard hybrid of War of the Worlds and Night of the Living Dead, the Autumn series chronicles the struggle of a small group of survivors forced to contend with a world torn apart by a deadly disease. After 99% of the population of the planet is killed in less than 24 hours, for the very few who have managed to stay alive, things are about to get much worse. Animated by "phase two" of some unknown contagion, the dead begin to rise. At first slow, blind, dumb and lumbering, quickly the bodies regain their most basic senses and abilities... sight, hearing, locomotion... As well as the instinct toward aggression and violence. Held back only by the restraints of their rapidly decomposing flesh, the dead seem to have only one single goal - to lumber forth and destroy the sole remaining attraction in the silent, lifeless world: those who have survived the plague, who now find themselves outnumbered 1,000,000 to 1...

While the first Autumn novel focused on those who escaped the city, Autumn: The City focuses on those who didn't.

Without ever using the 'Z' word, the Autumn series offers a new perspective on the traditional zombie story. There's no flesh eating, no fast-moving corpses, no gore for gore's sake. Combining the atmosphere and tone of George Romero's classic living dead films with the attitude and awareness of 28 Days (and Weeks) later, this horrifying and suspenseful novel is filled with relentless cold, dark fear.

Genres: Zombies, Horror, Fiction, Post Apocalyptic, Apocalyptic, Dystopia, Science Fiction

330 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

David Moody first released Hater in 2006, and without an agent, succeeded in selling the film rights for the novel to Mark Johnson (producer, Breaking Bad) and Guillermo Del Toro (director, The Shape of Water, Pan's Labyrinth). Moody's seminal zombie novel Autumn was made into a movie starring Dexter Fletcher and David Carradine. He has an unhealthy fascination with the end of the world and likes to write books about ordinary folks going through absolute hell. With the publication of continuing Hater and Autumn stories, Moody has cemented his reputation as a writer of suspense-laced SF/horror, and "farther out" genre books of all description.

Find out more about his work at www.davidmoody.net and www.infectedbooks.co.uk, and join Moody's mailing list to keep up with new releases.

Reviews

[Trudi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I expect a lot from my zombie fiction – terror, suspense, action, snappy dialogue, characters I can care about – and if it’s a novel really firing on all cylinders, originality. In other words, authors don’t get a free pass to slack off just because they’ve gone the zombie route. It’s true that part of the genre’s enduring appeal comes from its familiar tropes – I read the books (and watch the movies) because the stuff I’m pretty certain will happen is all good, reliable fun. So while the overall story always feels familiar, the devil is in the details. If an author / filmmaker can take what’s so awesome about the genre but add a twist or two that’s totally new and unexpected, well then, ladies and gentlemen, what you have is a champion.

David Moody has come dangerously close to outright failure on all these counts with this second installment of his Autumn series. Words cannot express how supremely disappointed I am in this book but I’m gonna try. First off, this is a “companion” book, not a sequel, because it really doesn’t move the story along at all, but rather re-tells the plot of Book 1, just from the perspective of a different group of survivors. Two characters from Book 1 show up again and briefly add to the action. A review here on Goodreads points out: “Had you not read the 1st book in the series you could still pick this one up and start without being lost.” Yeah you could, because it’s essentially the same goddamn book! The only thing that prevents it from being identical is that the story is moved a smidge forward in the last few pages to set up Book 3. What could have improved things tremendously is if the two books and 600 pages had been edited down to 350 pages and one book. So, strike one.

Strike two: this book is DULL. How the hell can a zombie apocalypse ever be dull? I didn’t think it was possible, but there’s just no fierce tension or heart-pounding action. There are some scenes running from zombies that should get the adrenaline going, but just fall flat. And for this I’m really pissed because I know Moody can write awesome action sequences like nobody’s business (check out Hater), and draw out the suspense until you scream Uncle. This effort just doesn’t cut it. No way no how. I love zombies, and I think Moody is pretty cool, but I refuse to let this one slide, regardless of the book blurbs waxing poetic on its awesomeness and even the gushing reviews here on Goodreads. What the hell people? Have your standards dropped so low, or is that all you expect from zombie fiction these days?

Strike three: I know I mentioned that “different” or original is good, but zombies that don’t bite (and continue to decay) kinda suck ass. The premise sort of intrigued me in Book 1. Moody almost had me convinced that zombies don’t have to rip you up to be frightening – get enough of them and you’re either smothered or crushed. But after reading another 320 pages of this kind of lurching zombie behavior, with no gore, no ripping, no biting, I’m suddenly not so enamored anymore.

So three strikes you’re out, right? ::sigh:: I am going to read on in this series though, because I have to believe it will get better. I’m also curious to see just how far Moody will take the story. So far, he’s only tackled the first weeks of the apocalypse. That’s the easy part to tell. The tough part is what happens next. Will he go there, and what will his post-apocalyptic world look like populated by desiccated reanimated corpses?

[Greg at 2 Book Lovers Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was while I was reading The City that I heard about George Romero’s passing. To be honest, it now feels like there is a massive hole in this genre that I have grown to love so much. Now, you may wonder what Romero has to do with The City or even the Autumn Series. Well, Romero set the standard, established the expectations and, whether consciously or subconsciously, Romero is the bar that all others will be judged by.

I am always on the lookout for a post-apocalyptic/zombie (if you can call the Autumn Series a zombie series) book that stands out and goes somewhere different. I crave that book that brings me new emotions and feelings; a book where I. Did. Not. See. That. Coming. David Moody does this. He avoids the word zombie like the plague; although, a zombie by any other name still smells like a putrid, rotting corpse. But like any great book in the genre, it’s never about them, it is about us – the survivors.

Moody is a master of the human condition. Each character is unique, separate and a complete individual human. They are all part of the ensemble cast, sharing the spotlight equally. Unlike many other books where I am left with the impression that the protagonist is a reflection of how the author believes he or she would react to the apocalypse, in The City, there are as many reactions as there are characters. I am left with the image of Moody sitting in his local pub or at a sidewalk café watching people, creating a story for each one. How would she react? What would that guy do? That guy there, he’s going to be the arse. These characters are each given an equal platform in the story. They are my co-workers, neighbors and family. I can easily find myself in there as well.

The City is billed as book two in the Autumn Series, but it runs concurrently with book one; technically you could read book two first. It is a must read for any post-apocalyptic fan.

[Jo Anne B · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Moody continues the series with another fast enjoyable read. I found myself having to read this one right away after I finished the first because I wanted to know what was going to happen to Michael and Emma next. The problem was that in this book we didn't even hear about Michael and Emma until Part 2 which was 47% into the book. That really bothered me. Here you have the two characters that are the heart strings of the book and you leave them out of the picture for almost half the book. The book should have picked up right away with them instead of leaving us hanging forever like that. I felt like it was a cheap ploy to keep is reading and deal with the introduction of several new characters. I didn't even like these new characters and maybe I would have been more into them if they were introduced simultaneously with Michael and Emma. Once Part 2 began, I felt like now the real story that I care about has begun.

Moody does a great job making the reader feel like they are the characters in the book. Everyone is a regular person, easy to relate to, and they think and do what normal people would do in their situation. I kept thinking all throughout the first and second book, what would I do. How would I deal with that? Whereas the first book centered only on a few characters who were for the most part on their own, this book brings a whole bunch of people together. I thought that was the way it would progress in real life too. Donna kept telling Paul that they should just stay in the office building, and they both knew they had to muster up the courage to find other survivors or else they would be dead soon too. It is human nature to want to find others like yourself to be a part of a group. Michael had to convince Emma that they had to reach out to the vehicles they saw too no matter how uncomfortable or questionable it was. These people had to make hard decisions all in the hopes of making the right ones to help them survive.

I did like the introduction of Cooper, Armitage, and Donna. They added some interesting perspectives to the story. I don't want to give anything away of the story line but Cooper and his gang brought a lot to this second book. I felt bad for the people that he came from and them not knowing their fate. Donna is a kick ass independent woman whose strength and courage are admirable. She puts many of the men to shame in this book. Moody likes using the word "idiots" and that is how Donna saw most of the men, because they really were.

The corpses once again were changing their behavior putting more pressure on the survivors to find a safe haven. Where that was exactly continued to be a big concern.

After I read this one, I had to go on to the second one too, again because I was so caught up in the anticipation of it all.

I strongly recommend this series. It is very enjoyable and true to human nature.

[Jodi Cleghorn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too slow to begin, too many characters with too little depth to give two shits about. While the action picks up in the final third, it was too tedious until that point.

While the Autumn series may have been ahead of the new wave of zombie novels ( like World War Z and Warm Bodies ) and probably suffers because of this ( newer books have better articulated stories and refreshing takes on the trope ) it can't excuse Moody's writing which is clinical to the point of sterile. The book suffers from too much telling and not enough showing in a third person style reminiscent of the detachment of journalism without any of the interesting things that may have been done with that approach ( World War Z ).

A little like Rice's 'Interview with a Vampire' it ends without actually ending, leaving the reader with the terrible temptation to continue on with the next book despite what is likely to be an unsatisfying read. So I believe Mr Moody, this is where you and I will part company and I will ignore the fact I will never know what happens to those left stranded inside the bunker.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the creep factor of "Autumn," the first book in the apocalyptic Autumn series so much that I had to locate the second book. It was more than worth my time, rummaging through the shelves at Katy Budget Books. I'm totally in love with the covers for this series...so creepy...so cool!

"Autumn: the City" tells the story of a group of survivors that witness the end of the world as we know it. But it doesn’t end there, how could it? The survivors watch in horror as the once dead bodies littering the streets begin to twitch, then slowly rise up from their resting places upon the streets. As the survivors bed down in the hiding places they have found, thinking about what they should do next to stay safe, things begin to change... and not for the better.

Moody stepped it up in this installment, giving the bodies a "28 Days" feel, which added to the overall horror. Coming in contact with the walking dead was less intense than that of the bloody savage-like zombies in "28 Days" but, nevertheless, scary as heck. Seeing and feeling the emotional impact of each character definitely makes you scoot to the edge of your seat and grip the book a little tighter than you would with your typical read.

One thing that really makes David’s walking dead more appealing than the average zombie book is that he does it in a creative way; he completely omits the use of the word 'zombie' and just tells the survivors' stories. My favorite thing about Moody’s writing style is the movie theater feel. It feels as though he has written you in as an extra so you can experience the feeling to run like hell when the bodies approach. It’s awesome.

I highly recommend David Moody’s Autumn series to anybody looking for a gnarly, zombie-apocalyptic story that will rock your world.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The opening of Autmun: The City brings us back to the city where the story started in book one, hence the title. We meet new characters and see how characters from the previous book are doing, as well as the introduction of the army who have been held up in a bunker just outside the city.

New characters Jack, Donna and Cooper are all great, but it was also really good to get back to Emma and Michael who were my favourite characters in the first book, Autumn.

What I’ve found even more evident in this instalment is Moody’s very cinematic writing style – it’s as though each book could be an episode in a TV series and each book just gives you that little bit more of the storyline, but each having a self contained story within.

There’s much better characterisation in this instalment, with a lot more depth of emotion. I’m not sure if it’s because I began reading this straight after reading Autumn but I really started to get to know and care for the characters. The few niggles I had with Autumn weren’t a factor here, and I enjoyed Autumn: The City from beginning to end.

The zombies are still as creepy and now they’re decomposing and getting more violent. Although these zombies are the traditional slow, shuffling kind, they are different in that they rip apart there own kind as well as humans, but don’t eat flesh (well in this instalment anyway). However, this could all change as the zombies evolve further.

There’s fantastic tension and the suspense just builds and builds and doesn’t let up. I couldn’t put this book down and as soon as I’d finished I grabbed for the next book in the series, Autumn: Purification.

Autumn: The City is a great second instalment, much better than the first in my opinion with better characterisation and more depth. I can only see this series getting better with each book, as I follow the characters and get to know them better, as well as seeing how the zombies evolve. If you haven’t started this series yet, then I would urge that you do. I’m sure you won’t be disappointed – a great zombie read.

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

Like the first book in the series Autumn, this is a top notch zombie thriller that is a slight variation on the standard post apocalyptic story.  Although this is the second book in the series, it plays out as an extension of the first more than it does as a standalone. 

Things that make this book stand out. One interesting aspect was that  Moody wasted no time wiping out the human population. From one minute to the next, schools, towns, cities, and then countries fell dead to an apparent virus. A second cool part of this book was how those few survivors had to  quickly come to grips with the fact that the world has ended, and that they were alive with no apparent direction to go. Michael and Emma, our heroes from book one do not show up for nearly half the book. Like the first book, the survivors are not killers. There are no kick ass zombie beheading stories, or mass killings to talk about. These books focus on what it would be like to lose everything. To lose all you ever had, ever loved, and ever dreamed. 

This book adds another 40 people to the cast including up to an additional 300 soldiers that have been hiding underground in a safe self contained bunker. There are several interseting new POV's added to this book, including a cool soldier named Cooper, a nice guy widower named Jack, and a strong young woman named Donna, as well as our two original heroes, Mike and Emma.

The slow building of tension and danger, coupled with the slow changes to the world, after such an incredibly fast destruction gave this book an awesome feel of dread. The changes to the undead, their evolution per se, give this book a great atmosphere. I have really enjoyed these first two books and am a fan of Moody's writing style and characterizations. To me, this series is a post apocapyltic must read. 

[Alondra Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 out of 5 zombie bites

In this 2nd book of the series the zombies are slowly but surely evolving. They are more aware of their surroundings and they are getting increasingly violent.

We have little pockets of survivors all over; from Michael and Emma feeling hormonal in the motor home, to a larger group at the local university, a lone soldier left behind and two who came together in an office building.

I love the slow build-up of this story. It seems believable. In the first book; 3/4 of the world started coughing and then died. 2-3 days later, they got back up...and now for the past 2-3 weeks they have been stumbling around trying to 'find their way'... i guess. We also see a wide range of emotions with all of our survivors; from nearly catatonic to downright heroic.

I cannot wait until I get my hands on Book 3 - Autumn: Purification!!

[Mars · Rating 1 out of 5]

I picked up another Autumn book just to see if the last one was a fluke or they're all that awful.
Yep, definitely awful.
The phrase "bloody, germ-filled" is utilized to describe the *visual* aspect of the ichor emitted by the zombies.
A guy in a hazmat suit walks out into the cold and his visor fogs up, so he *wipes it off with his hand*.
People continuously react to the dangerous and unknown by consciously going out *at night* (while the power's out) to "avoid being detected".
Repeated mis-usage of words that Moody clearly doesn't know the definition of.

The characters are less violently bipolar in this one than in Autumn: [no subtitle], but as consequence they're even more one-dimensional.

Moody does go into some topics that would be of interest, but so ham-fistedly that it's no longer enough to bump the book from 1 star (burn before reading) to 2 (merely bad).

[Julie Kellner · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book started out good but was very drawn out

[Amy McCalla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very slow moving. I hope the 3rd book is a bit more action packed! I would love to finish the series but I found it took me forever to finish this book! Love the characters though!

[Fangs for the Fantasy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just as the story suggests, this time Moody takes his Autumn series into a major urban center. As in Autumn, the first book in the series, 99% of the worlds population is suddenly struck dead through what I assume to be an air born virus. The survivors must first deal with the grief of knowing that everyone they know is dead and gone. Most choose to seek comfort in the familiar by staying in their homes, or in their places of business. Eventually, they are driven out either by a desperation to ascertain that they are not the last humans alive, or because they have become trapped by the newly dead who have become zombies.

Due it's location, Autumn The City lends itself to a larger cast, but once again, this does not include disabled people or GLBT people. One Asian man is at the shelter, and he does not speak any english. He is referenced once and quickly forgotten. His pain is told through the lens of a White survivor named Donna, and this further helps to remove his importance to the story. The absence of the historically marginalized people in a large urban center makes absolutely no sense and reads as a failure of imagination, as well as an inability on the part of Moody himself to confront his privilege. It's a terrible thing when one has the ability to create an entirely new world, and still cannot conceive of a way in which to include historically marginalized people. As I said in my review of Autumn, this is not unheard of in dystopian fantasy, but that fact does not make it anymore acceptable.

To ensure continuity between the two books, Michael and Emma are placed on the outskirts of the city seeking shelter in a Winnebago. Due to everything that they have survived together, a sort of dependency, and what I think would best be described as situational love occurs between the two of them. The one scene I did find disturbing, is when Michael decides to masturbate to the point of ejaculation, while holding Emma as she sleeps. She of course was only feigning sleeping, and tells him that his feelings are only natural. Uh huh, to me this sounds like a great way to skirt the issue of consent, as well as justification for using a woman as a masturbatory tool.

I am absolutely blown away by Moody's skill as a writer. From almost the first sentence, Autumn The City, though short - coming in at under 200 pages, is almost impossible to put down. The writing continues to be very stark, and yet we can feel the desperation of the survivors, as their only shelter becomes enclosed by dead. We can feel the fear that the world has come to the end, as a young mother jumps to her death after her baby, only minutes old, falls victim to the virus and dies. The survivors must consider whether or not to stay in the hospital, in which they have taken shelter, even though staying means risking being over run by zombies. There is also the issue that going out to find supplies, or even a new shelter, is still yet a risk. Is there any hope for these survivors? Can they fend of the depression that threatens to overwhelm them?

Read More

[Ron · Rating 4 out of 5]

My wife brought this home from the library thinking it was something I'd like and as usual, she was spot on. This is a stronger book than the first in the series (AUTUMN), but the voice and approach are similar. It's a zombie novel set vaguely in the UK but the approach is rather original in that none of the characters express any awareness of zombies, what is going on with these creatures etc.--as though George Romero's movies (and their many spinoffs) had never set stage in popular culture. The word 'zombie' never appears in the book. I found this refreshing in that it lets the reader experience the phenomenon of something terrifying and inexplicable as the characters would, seeking answering and trying to puzzle things out. I also like the way Moody handles the 'phases' of the zombie process, a way that has the reader speculating as much as the characters, when or if the other shoe will fall.

I was 40 pages into the story before realizing that it was written in omniscient point of view, a rarity these days. This creates a distance from the characters, almost as though we're studying them as detached scientific observers. This pretty much suits the author's purpose, I surmise. The characters seem real and are not necessarily likeable, but that's OK. They behave much more like real humans and not at all like their movie stereotypes. At times it felt more like a literary novel than sf/horror. It's definitely a departure from the typical munch & march/guts & guns teen zombie genre and well worth a look for horror/sf fans.

[Dreadlocksmile · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Autumn: The City” is the second book of the four part post-apocalyptic zombie saga by David Moody. The book starts off from the same point in time as that of the first book “Autumn”, but from the perspective of some other survivors who are all based within a huge urban city. Like in the first novel, the events quickly take off, with the desperate situation throwing the few survivors left into a complete state of shock. The novel homes in on there emotional responses and the mental stress each and every character is put under. David weaves a dark tale of tension and uncertain suspense that will keep you on the edge of your seat from the very beginning. As the story unfolds, you meet up with the original two main characters Michael and Emma from the first novel whilst the horrific events turn quickly for the worse. The story climbs towards a dramatic ending that will leave you gasping once you’ve finished.

David show’s a great talent with his writing, keeping the reader absorbed in the tale and feeling emotionally attached to the unfortunate survivors. The slow development of the zombies characteristics are well thought through and help build upon this truly breath-taking read.

This book, and indeed the whole “Autumn” series, is highly recommended to any zombie or horror fan. Once you’ve read the first novel you’re going to want to read them all!!!!

[Geoff Battle · Rating 2 out of 5]

The City is a sequel to the first Autumn in the same fashion that Evil Dead II is a sequel to Evil Dead. It's a rehash, adding very little content, and not answering any questions left over from the first. What differs from the original entry is the rural setting has been replaced with that of a cityscape. In the last quarter of the book the story meets up with where the original Autumn ended (although you won't have needed to read it, since the events have all recompiled in this book). At the end of The City you are presented with no closure, ensuring that you'll continue with the series. That all said, you probably will continue with it. Despite the lack of originality, the repetitive plot, the two dimensional characters, and no memorable scenes - there is a spark in Moody's Autumn series that cannot be dulled. It's a bleak premise and you will want to see how humanity overcomes this setback. It's a quick pulp fiction read that is fine as a filler if you're hard up for top-notch book to read.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

II love zombie/apocalypse books and found this one in the HPB clearance area. I had no idea that it was #2 in the series, so I read it. And since it starts right as the disease hits, I can only assume in the first one, you get more background to the characters. Anyway, I am IN! Just ordered the rest of the series because I really enjoyed this book. It was great because it really seems like what would happen if such an event occurred and only a few people randomly survived.

[Rhiannon Frater · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I really felt it was a massive step up for the series, not just because of the expanded cast of characters, but because the author's style really seemed to come together in a very dynamic way. There are descriptions in this book that will absolutely haunt your nightmares.

Loved it!

[Jeff · Rating 1 out of 5]

Yes, I read the sequel. Yes, I'm an idiot. Mainly everyone in this book sits around thinking and being scared. But because they're all stupid their thoughts are not interesting and they all seem to think pretty much the same thing: "I'm scared, and the world will never be the way it was before." Over and over. Yes, I'll probably read the third one. See explanation above.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Long time fan of Mr. Moody especially the Hater Series of books but alas I wasn't a fan of Autumn so I was reluctant to continue with the series but I am happy to report that The City is a welcome return to form.
Moody returns to the start of the plague and tells the story of those trapped on a university campus in the city center and there attempts at survival in the opening few weeks of the madness that the world has become.
The City is a far superior book to Autumn and its character development is so much better and the writing superb as Moody explains how the undead evolve into the threat that he introduced in the first book.
New characters Jack, Donna and Cooper are all well fleshed out and a welcome addition to the story that Moody is trying to tell with a greater depth of emotion that you really start to care about the people he has introduced to you.
The first book is not forgotten as we catch up again with Emma and Michael from the first book to see what has become of them since leaving the farmhouse.
We have far more tension here and the stakes feel so much higher than in book one, the story is fast paced and the action is well written and the world is well realized that he is building comes to life page after page.
With a frantic ending which leaves us on a cliffhanger I really enjoyed my time here in this terrifying and brutal world that I'm looking fwd. to book 3.

Well worth your time and hard-earned cash great stuff.

[Kaisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I cannot tell you how much I disliked this book. I think whoever recommended me Autumn as a zombie series is having a joke on me.

Like, first of all, there weren't any actual zombie behavior until closer to 80% of the book. I mean, cool, they just died first, that's great. And then they started coming alive after a few days. Spooky, I like it. ... ... and.. and then nothing? We're just reading about a bunch of people crying about how there is no point in being alive anylonger because society is gone?

And secondly of all, alright, sure, I cannot predict how I'll react if the apocalypse comes and everyone turns into dead corpses around me. Maybe I'll go catatonic myself. But this entire book was filled with people with basically 0 survival instinct. And it annoyed me. Not one? not one person took charge (of themselves) and started stockpiling some food and cleared their surrounding area of dead bodies??

I won't even let leftovers sit in a garbage bag for a day before I take that shit out on the CHANCE it might start smelling and I'm just going to be TOTALLY COOL with three dead corpses a few meters away from me? My top priority would be to either remove them, or relocate to somewhere where there were no dead bodies.

[Chloesa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have to get my hands on this book in my local library after I've finished the first book, Autumn.

Needless to say, I enjoyed this second book very much.

The refreshing thing about this series so far is that there is no exaggerating gore or human politics. Yes, we are talking about zombie apocalypse but the author focused more on the underlying emotions in most of the characters. Alot of characters in here are realistically trying to come into terms with themselves instead of getting involve quickly in forming different camps. This is something different from the other books of same genre that I've read. This series is quiet yet loud.

The only reason I haven't given this a full 5 star is because I was expecting a larger scale of plot and characters since this book took place in a city.

Alas, I can't wait to read the third book to see where this goes!

[Sydney · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a little repetitive. It was similar to the first in that sense. The first one was understandable. But the second was almost exactly the same. They start off by introducing new characters and explain where they were when the virus too hold. Then the characters constantly argue about whether they should stay in their current location or not. I accepted it in the first book thinking it was natural and kind of realistic. But the second book was also the same and kind of boring. I kept skimming paragraphs because I felt like I was reading the first book again. Just with new characters and a new location. Their situations were almost exactly the same and they ended up doing the same thing. This book is the first book in a different outfit. The ending was interesting and the only reason I’m even considering reading the third book.

[Autumn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Man o man, was I disappointed. For one, the author decided to start the story practically over with new characters, okay thats fine and all but these characters have no personality. You are just reading a story about some boring people living in a dorm kind of place. Yeah towards the end it started to get exciting, just like the first one, but of course it ends right as something is going to happen. I don't even know if i'm going to try and read the next one since who knows if we are once again starting over. The first book has some great characters and i got really invested in the people in that book, but this one? I don't think I could even tell you some of the characters names, over it.

[Ana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Un poco mejor que el primer libro.
Sigue siendo muy lento y todo se repite demasiado.
Todo el libro, cada vez que los personajes interaccionan entre si es para discutir lo mismo de cual sera el siguiente paso, la conversación termina en nada y cuando vuelven a reunirse es la misma conversación.

Los personajes no te hacen sentir nada. Algo que se me olvido mencionar en el primer libro fue que los personajes no son simpáticos, no gustan para nada. Estoy hablando de Michael principalmente, pero la mayoría de los personajes son casi igual, todos tienen la misma voz.

Empecé a leer el tercer libro y pues no estoy segura de si lo terminare, este apenas y pude soportarlo.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

The second in the 6 part zombie series. I actually plan to read them in order, one after the other, as I got the set for Christmas. I liked the 2nd one better than than the first, would have given it 3.5 if possible. It's a zombie apocalypse story, with most of the world dead and many corpses returning to set out after the few remaining living. This book had a lot more characters throughout and also brought in a couple from the first book. A good read, entertaining and interesting. I am looking forward to see what happens next :)

[C S · Rating 3 out of 5]

The second novel in David Moody's Autumn series sets the bar high. "The City" is way more action packed than the first book, while still maintaining it's calm bleakness. Like the first book, I found this book to be perfectly paced. I was never bored. "The City" introduces many new characters. Characters in this book are more well rounded than the first book, but most are forgettable. But the main characters are likeable enough to keep you invested in their stories. The last 80 or so pages of this book had me on the edge of my seat..

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Same as the opening novel it isn't original (pretty difficult to be original in the zombie genre) but still a satisfying read. This concentrates on a group holed up in a university building starting from day one of the virus which has pretty much wiped out humanity, only leaving a very small number. Part two sees a second group featured in the prologue to this novel and the remnants of those involved in Autumn. Bring on the next in the series.

Ray Smillie

[Derek Bedrosian · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice continuation of the story. A zombie novel, to be sure, but a nice deviation from typical genre-defining aspects such as that in the Autumn series, the zombies aren't out to eat the survivors; just pummel them to death. At the end of this one, I'm left wondering where the survivors go from here. Luckily I'm now picking up the next installment.

[Natalie Laguna · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars, i liked this book for not being a typical Zombie book and not calling them zombies either. i like that it's not typically scary, it's suspenseful and while it can feel a little anti-climatic i still enjoyed the story.

[Danny · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually lost track of a couple of characters? But still interested in plot as a whole.