I’ve read many of Anthony Renfro’s stories and was thrilled to receive his book A Zombie Holiday Trilogy.
Inside are A Zombie Thanksgiving, A Zombie Christmas, A Zombie New Year, and a bonus short story, A Vampire At Christmas. I chose to review each story on it’s holiday and this is the last one, A Zombie New year. Some of these are offered as individual stories to purchase and some will be offered again in a new collection coming out this year.
This is my first review for 2015 and what could be more appropriate as January is Zombie Month here on fuonlyknew!
I like to start the year off with one of my favorite undeads and zombies it is.
Who knows what comes next in February.
A Zombie New Year
by Anthony Renfro
My Review
This short story is also offered in the authors collection, A Zombie Holiday Trilogy.
It is the longer of the stories and really hit home. Just how important is tradition when an apocalypse has occurred? How far would you go to keep a promise? Is there time for love when the world has crumbled?
Becky and Joe become separated during the zombie apocalypse. Both find themselves in dangerous situations as they strive to get to Acorn Drop, the place they first met, and share their promised New Years kiss.
Becky awakens surrounded by men in fatigues. A rough lot. They make their wants known and she tries to stall while making up a plan of escape.
You now that saying, “The enemy of my enemy is my friend?” Sometimes it’s true. These guys should have thoroughly cleared the house before letting their minds listen to their lower parts.
Zombies stumble out of one of the bedrooms and in the tussle, Becky makes her escape, only to have to fight her way through the ones outside.
Some of the men, still pumped up on testosterone, pursue her and she must find a way to lose them. She doubts when they finish with her they’ll just let her go. And she has some place to be. Someone to meet. Something to do. Acorn Drop. Joe. Kiss.
Meanwhile, Joe is out in the open and vulnerable. The zombies are everywhere and he’s been spotted. Searching, he finally sees a house that looks safe and dashes inside.
First things first, he searches the house finding no immediate threat of zombies. Next, he checks the garage and finds a car. Could the keys be in the house? He reenters to search for them. There’s not much time as the zombies will eventually find a way in.
Joe soon discovers he’s not alone in the house. But it’s not zombies and it’s not people. Of all the houses, of all the streets, he had to choose this one. This is one battle he wasn’t prepared for.
He keeps his mind on his goals. Get to Acorn Drop. Find Becky. Kiss her like it’s the end of the world. But New Years is almost here and he’s got a long way to go.
I believe love is all we have when the world falls apart. Even if it doesn’t. Who will mourn you when you die? Who will fight for you, with you? What will keep you going when all seems hopeless?
The dynamics of people when faced with the thinkable has always fascinated me. Sometimes, the threat by man is every bit as deadly as the threat outside.
I’ve read many zombie books and I know there isn’t always a happy ending, but I have hope for Becky and Joe.
5 Stars
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Synopsis
This short story is about Becky and Joe ,who are separated in a zombie Apocalypse and risk life and limb in order to reunite for their New Year’s kiss.
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My reviews of the other stories in A Zombie Holiday Trilogy and one more.
Click on the covers to read my reviews.
Evil Beach
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A Zombie Thanksgiving
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A Zombie Christmas
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A Vampire At Christmas
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A Zombie Holiday Trilogy
Click on the cover to get the complete trilogy.
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Author Anthony Renfro
Anthony Renfro lives in Apex, North Carolina. He is a reader, writer, runner, husband, father, and stay at home dad – one of the toughest jobs anyone could ever do. He was born in Bristol, Tennessee, and is a graduate of UNC-Greensboro.
You can find him at many spots on the web, but if you really need to find his center in the social media storm it would be at his blog, apoetryjourney.wordpress.com.
Now reach out, just beyond the light, right into that big black space, and let him take your hand on a journey into cold dark places. You will be scared, and you may even be terrified, but in the end you might just find you liked the ride.
Find him on:
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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!
And Happy New Year!