The Hitchhiker Strain Series

End Dayz by Kellie Sheridan

End Dayz is the prequel to the new series The Hitchhiker Strain released in early 2013.  This book follows four teens as the zombie apocalypse is just starting.  This short novella sets the pace for this series as we follow Peirce, Zack, Bella, and Alex.  Each character is documenting their own story via journals, letters, and diary entries giving a great back-story on each and setting this series up to be great.  I can’t wait to read Mortality, the first book in this series.

Synopsis:

It's month after the dead first began to walk. The miracle vaccine that was supposed to save us all has failed.

Now, four teens fight to stay alive as a stronger, smarter breed of zombie begins to appear, threatening to end humanity for good.

Four short stories, 11,000 words total.

Prequel to Mortality (March, 2013).

Mortality by Kellie Sheridan

4 Stars

Mortality is the second installment in the Hitchhiker Strain series; this book is considered book 1.  This Walking Dead meets Survivor YA will be a great addition to your reader if you are a fan or either series.  If you have not read End Dayz, the prequel to this series, it is not necessary but will give you valuable insight into this outbreak.

In Mortality, we see the same characters from End Dayz but follow some of the teens mentioned in the prequel.  Savannah has lost her family in one way or another and is alone and living with the rest of the survivors of her community at the local high school.  Wanting to fight back against the zombies and be part of the adult team she learns to fight and improves her survival skills.  When she happens across Cole while on a supply run he changes her outlook and direction on life.

Zarah is living in the middle of the outbreak zone in Ohio.  After no one picks her up form school after the initial outbreak Liam, the new kid in school, rescues her.  Moving away with her aunt, Zarah thinks all is well after a new vaccine is available until her aunt turns into an “uber Z”.  Once again Liam to the rescue fleeing with Zarah to find a safe zone.

Synopsis:

After surviving a deadly plague outbreak, sixteen-year-old Savannah thought she had lived through the very worst of human history. There was no way to know that the miracle vaccine would put everyone at risk for a fate worse than un-death.

Now, two very different kinds of infected walk the Earth, intent on nothing but feeding and destroying what little remains of civilization. When the inoculated are bitten, infection means watching on in silent horror as self-control disappears and the idea of feasting on loved ones becomes increasingly hard to ignore.

Starving and forced to live inside of the abandoned high school, all Savannah wants is the chance to fight back. When a strange boy arrives with a plan to set everything right, she gets her chance. Meeting Cole changes everything. Mere survival will never be enough.