This is a special day. Not only will I be reviewing ZED by Stehen Herfst, he has also graciously accepted my invitation for an interview.

My review:

First let me give you a brief synopsis from Goodreads.

The story revolves around a teenage girl’s promise to save Zed from the human hordes.

Zed is not your typical zombie. He is cursed with the affliction of thought…although he tries to make the best of a bad situation. The goals for his unrest are simple: to improve his stride, to taste a lightly-seared pork loin once again and avoid Activists at all costs.

His life was predictable, controlled and good until chaos crashed the party. In just one day his world is destroyed and his ability to survive is tested. Would he be able to get through this in one piece? And would he somehow be able to survive the unstoppable force that goes by the name of Chase?

I am at a loss to describe how much I enjoyed this book. I did a blog post just about getting ready to review it, and then I reread it so that Zed would be fresh in my mind. So much is wanting to be said.

Imagine being the only zombie that can think. Do you belong with other zombies, or should you avoid them? You would have to wonder, why me? Why  am I the only one, and where do I belong?

Zed chooses a life of seclusion, away from zombies and humans alike. That is until one eventful night when he encounters Chase. Thrown together by chance, they stay together to survive. There is danger for a young girl in these times, especially one traveling alone. Not to mention the human horde that wants to kill and mount all zombies they come across. Maybe, if they work together, Chase and Zed can make it to a safe zone and live their lives in peace.

I am still struggling to tell you about this story. It is much more than the gratuitous zombies eating people scenes, which there are some doozies. It is also funny, like when Zed goes to the maul.  And Chase, man is she a firecracker. She provides the spark and sets this book on fire. You can not help but love her.

Let me tell you, this book is an amazing read. There are so many ups and downs, spins and teeth-clenching thrills inside. It is unlike any other zombie book you have read and you should not miss out. Get Zed and get reading. I hear there are two more books to come.

I gave this 5 STARS and then some.

Now I have a special treat for you. Today I was supposed to be interviewing Stephen Herfst. Alas, he was unable to attend, so he sent Zed in his stead.

To those of you who have not met Zed, Stephen has written a whole book about him. The book is called ZED.

Now, Zed is a zombie and we all know they don’t like to be kept waiting, so I better get to the interview. I have had to change the questions a bit to accommodate Zed, and I was told not to interject while he was commenting.

Would you prefer eating brains from a man or a woman?

Hmm…it would be relative to what I am in the mood for; the flavour of a woman’s brain is intense, sweet and decidedly complex with hidden nuances that require my full attention. A man’s brain is musky, with a strong flavour that underlies the overall demeanor of the host. Of course, certain nationalities would result in some differences, for example, Italians/Spanish are prone to irrational bursts of flavour.

Could you describe what brains taste like?

First of all, the texture deserves some focus: a combination I would best describe as between broiled cauliflower and pate. A pert outer-shell that gives way to a smooth creamy centre. The flavour of the brain is subtle, and its most basic flavour tastes similar to pureed fatty chicken bathed in a brine of embryonic fluid. The flavour is also influenced by the hosts’ diet, with a wine-favouring host being the most delectable. I do like a good red wine marinade.

Would you date another zombie?

If the right female zombie came along…maybe. I take a pride in my appearance and so my partner would need to follow suit. There is a certain predictability to the female of my species, and so, they simply require no more than the offering of some human flesh to win their heart. It is true what they say about the way to one’s heart.

Do you want to remember who you were before?

It does irritate that the information does not come to me. All of my knowledge I have gained since my rebirth. Sometimes something triggers what might be a glimpse into what I think is the past. I am not sure but I have time so, when it happens, it will be one more thing that I can tick off my list.

What pet would you prefer?

I already have many pets. My books are house-trained, silent and speak to me when prompted and they can be silenced just as easily.

Do you floss?

Yes. Personal hygiene is important. I certainly would not want to suffer from gingivitis(or gum-disease)- certainly  do not want to exacerbate any additional flesh rot.

Where would you like to live?

Wherever I can be left to my own devices. Humans are a troublesome horde, always wanting to kill me, mount me, or worse, rescue me. It irritates me that they would somehow think my present situation would require rescuing.

If you were like most zombies that can only mutter brains and could say something else, what would you say?

I have to admit, I do use the classic call of brains when enticing my antagonists into one of my traps. I believe it is best to play to expectation until their realisation comes too late. Alternatively, I prefer saying nothing. Why would you want your prey knowing ahead of time of their impending doom, anyway?

Now, I think I have answered more than enough questions. It is a good thing that I am in a good mood(and do not have my Zombie Kit with me). You caught me at a moment of weakness…and I do not like it. Now be off before I find reason to change my mind…zombies are known for that, after all.

Well, I beat a hasty exit, glad to still be one piece. My thanks to Zed for being so obliging and to Stephen for allowing this interview.

Since Stephen could not make it today, here is a little bit about him.

If I had to define myself in a few words, it would be:

“Reserved, outgoing, thinking, reflective, driven, lazy, observant, competitive, confident, doubtful.”

Depending on my mood, the topic and the people around me, I can be many things. When I began life I wanted to be a programmer but now I just want to be independent. I am always open to trying new things and have always made it a habit of doing things I haven’t done before.

I was born in Germany, from Dutch-South African descent and live in Australia although I’m currently working in California and my family lives in Malaysia. I don’t believe that I can define one country as my home and hope to travel the rest of my life.

I am a Software Engineer by trade but have always loved books. During my early years I would read 5-10 books every two weeks and have always had a fertile imagination. My world was novels but in later years I find it harder to spare the time. I have always had side projects along-side my formal work and have always wanted to write but haven’t found a topic that has interested me until now.

I released my first novel on February 18. It took one month to write, followed by three months of editing. I am proud of this novel, although I am not yet finished. I have two more novels to write in this series, as well as a number of pet projects in the works that I feel “have legs”.

My hobbies include Tennis, Squash, Texas Hold’em, Restaurants(yes, that’s a hobby), watching good movies and reading good books.

I am staying tuned for more about Zed and am curious about those “legs”.

For a prologue of Zed you can go here: http://wp.me/p27ipo-68

You can find Stephen here: http://stephenherfst.blogspot.com

To purchase ZED just click on the cover image at beginning of the post.