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Arisen #4
Maximum Violence
In Canterbury, as the virus rages out of control, one troop of Royal Marine Commandos fights a 360-degree battle for survival, racing to rescue the Channel Tunnel survivors from a relentless siege – before Hellfire missile strikes and carpet bombing kill anyone left alive.
Across the Atlantic, the crew of the John F. Kennedy risks a catastrophic reactor meltdown to get out of the path of a ten-mile-wide tide of the dead; while, onshore at the Naval Air Base, Wesley's tiny team maintains a lonely vigil – which turns horrifyingly dangerous as the edge of the storm hits, pushing desperate civilians ahead of it.
In the air above, Gunnery Sergeant Fick leads a hand-picked fire-team of spec-ops Marines halfway across North America to take and defend an airfield on a remote island – but learns to his cost that it is a place with a terrible history, and very dangerous secrets.
Finally, out on Lake Michigan, Alpha team races toward extraction… but first must fight their most harrowing battle yet – this time against the living, who are both more treacherous and a hell of a lot better armed than the dead.
Across the Atlantic, the crew of the John F. Kennedy risks a catastrophic reactor meltdown to get out of the path of a ten-mile-wide tide of the dead; while, onshore at the Naval Air Base, Wesley's tiny team maintains a lonely vigil – which turns horrifyingly dangerous as the edge of the storm hits, pushing desperate civilians ahead of it.
In the air above, Gunnery Sergeant Fick leads a hand-picked fire-team of spec-ops Marines halfway across North America to take and defend an airfield on a remote island – but learns to his cost that it is a place with a terrible history, and very dangerous secrets.
Finally, out on Lake Michigan, Alpha team races toward extraction… but first must fight their most harrowing battle yet – this time against the living, who are both more treacherous and a hell of a lot better armed than the dead.
375 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 18, 2013
384 people are currently reading
472 people want to read
About the author
Glynn James
92 books478 followersGLYNN JAMES is an author of science fiction, post-apocalyptic, dark fantasy, horror, and dystopian fiction. His love of science fiction began when he was eight years old after discovering HP Lovecraft and Richard Matheson, and then later on Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaiman, James Herbert, Clive Barker, and Stephen King.
In addition to being author of the “ALTERLIGHT” supernatural mystery thriller series, he is author of the dark sci-fi series "DIARY OF THE DISPLACED", the post-apocalyptic "THROWN AWAY" series, and co-author of the "ARISEN" series and the “DUSTFALL” series.
More info on his writing and projects can be found at -
Website - www.glynnjames.co.uk
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/glynnjamesfi...
Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/GlynnJames
In addition to being author of the “ALTERLIGHT” supernatural mystery thriller series, he is author of the dark sci-fi series "DIARY OF THE DISPLACED", the post-apocalyptic "THROWN AWAY" series, and co-author of the "ARISEN" series and the “DUSTFALL” series.
More info on his writing and projects can be found at -
Website - www.glynnjames.co.uk
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/glynnjamesfi...
Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/GlynnJames
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
August 10, 2019
Review to come. Not as good as the previous book, but still pretty solid.
September 29, 2015
This non-stop action series really needs a tv adaption! :)
September 8, 2019
The intensity is giving me heart palpitations. . .What a phenomenally wild ride!
On Book #5!
On Book #5!
March 8, 2017
This book is awesome. From one thing to another - the ship, the shore, the ocean, the city, the runway. A storm of zombies terrifying in it's journey (really, tumbling over each other, climbing, sprinting, in such a hurry for human flesh and world domination). Had me on the edge of the chair, trying to read ONE MORE SENTENCE and ONE MORE and Just. One. More! before I had to go to work. Just didn't want to put it down.
April 7, 2022
One of the best military zompoc series out there. If you got this far, you know what I mean.
August 12, 2016
For being such short novels, I find the scope much too large and the details become a chore and a bore.
This is the first book of the series I've decided no to finish, which is weird because everyone else says they just get better and better.
I found this one had some cliches I couldn't get over, and a utilitarian style which lacked style and artistry. The four plots were too damn much (the coastal stuck ship, the ocean boat shoot out, the Beaver island plan and evac zone, and the U.K. HQ). There was only one plot I was invested in, way too many characters, and just mediocre writing overall.
I forgave a lot in book two and three, giving them higher stars than they should have had due to hypnotizing plot twists, but you need to grow as an author and not do the same damned thing for book after book or you risk losing your readership.
James and Fuchs -- you really can't add some mid-point plot twist or freshen the voice or something? Do you have to rehas the same character fears over and over? Describe the zombies with the same twenty adjectives and metaphors over and over and over and over??
.... and over?
The plot was really incredible for the last half of book one, all of book two, and the first 3/4s of book three. I'm finding my interest the series completely waning at a time were big things should be coming into focus. I think "Maximum Violence" is way too fattened up, and it's taking way too long, with every little action described and every character's thought chronicled.
Let's get this fucking doctor to a base already.
Too many characters... so much action... it all drags. It's not balanced. I read half or it and I'm not hooked. I'm not finishing it.
I only cared about the "Henno, Ali, Predator" group; the group the reader has the most invested in since book one. Yet here, we are made to spend a huge section of the second act at other locations that felt unwelcome. Had I written these books, they would have been the fuck outta there by the beginning of this book. Let's get to the next plot point. Let's head back to the U.K.
How are there six books?
I started skipping around to various chapters that included specific story lines only until, at 57% completion, I gave up.
2.75/5
MH
This is the first book of the series I've decided no to finish, which is weird because everyone else says they just get better and better.
I found this one had some cliches I couldn't get over, and a utilitarian style which lacked style and artistry. The four plots were too damn much (the coastal stuck ship, the ocean boat shoot out, the Beaver island plan and evac zone, and the U.K. HQ). There was only one plot I was invested in, way too many characters, and just mediocre writing overall.
I forgave a lot in book two and three, giving them higher stars than they should have had due to hypnotizing plot twists, but you need to grow as an author and not do the same damned thing for book after book or you risk losing your readership.
James and Fuchs -- you really can't add some mid-point plot twist or freshen the voice or something? Do you have to rehas the same character fears over and over? Describe the zombies with the same twenty adjectives and metaphors over and over and over and over??
.... and over?
The plot was really incredible for the last half of book one, all of book two, and the first 3/4s of book three. I'm finding my interest the series completely waning at a time were big things should be coming into focus. I think "Maximum Violence" is way too fattened up, and it's taking way too long, with every little action described and every character's thought chronicled.
Let's get this fucking doctor to a base already.
Too many characters... so much action... it all drags. It's not balanced. I read half or it and I'm not hooked. I'm not finishing it.
I only cared about the "Henno, Ali, Predator" group; the group the reader has the most invested in since book one. Yet here, we are made to spend a huge section of the second act at other locations that felt unwelcome. Had I written these books, they would have been the fuck outta there by the beginning of this book. Let's get to the next plot point. Let's head back to the U.K.
How are there six books?
I started skipping around to various chapters that included specific story lines only until, at 57% completion, I gave up.
2.75/5
MH
June 20, 2013
I got to give it to Glynn James & Michael Stephen Fuchs on this one. It sure LIVED up to its' title: MAXIMUM VIOLENCE! Yikes! Action - Action - Action - then toss in some INTENSE Action - thousands of zombies (fast, slow, and hungry), and even more INTENSE action! Wow! I'm tired and all I did was read this novella........The story took place in 4 different locations with each location having their own set of zombie/human problems. Each storyline went to the MAX level of violence that it could, always taking the characters from the frying pan into the fire. I have read 3 other Arisen novellas plus the prequel (written by just Fuchs). I have rated 3 of those stories 5-star and the last Arisen story 4-stars. Well, I am back to 5-Stars and I would give this one 6 or more if I could. If you love zombie stories you got to try this series out. In my review of the first Arisen story I wrote that the authors seemed to have written this series JUST for me. I totally love a good zombie story and special force action thrillers. With Arisen, you get both of these elements to the MAX! I need to read a Matt Reilly thriller next just to slow down and get my pulse to slow down a tad after reading this baby!
May 24, 2015
Wow. Practically non-stop action in this book of the series.
However, I'm not liking the skipping between several different storylines in the book. Just as I'm getting interested in the current one, it stops and goes back to an earlier one. When that one had stopped, I was sorry the current one started. Each restart requires a complete reorientation to characters and backstory.
I could have done without the whole Canterbury storyline. It was OK, but that might have been better as a separate novella, since it had little to do with the other storylines.
However, I'm not liking the skipping between several different storylines in the book. Just as I'm getting interested in the current one, it stops and goes back to an earlier one. When that one had stopped, I was sorry the current one started. Each restart requires a complete reorientation to characters and backstory.
I could have done without the whole Canterbury storyline. It was OK, but that might have been better as a separate novella, since it had little to do with the other storylines.
March 27, 2014
More ZA joy!
I am not normally a military thriller kind of reader, but the characters, plot, and numerous sub-plots in the ARISEN series are so well developed I cannot get enough of them.
Onward to book five...
I am not normally a military thriller kind of reader, but the characters, plot, and numerous sub-plots in the ARISEN series are so well developed I cannot get enough of them.
Onward to book five...
August 26, 2020
Whoa. That was one of the most heart-stopping scenes I've ever read, close to the end, involving Alpha and Fick. Yikes.
RC Bray, you're scaring me to death. Where is the next book?
RC Bray, you're scaring me to death. Where is the next book?
July 19, 2016
Damn these books are so intense
March 28, 2018
I love the Arisen series. It's kind of like the summer blockbuster of audiobooks; big on explosions, action and tough guys. It also has a solid cast of characters, whose fate I actually care about, which is important for a series like this.
Book four spends a lot of time jumping from place to place, as there is a lot going on and a quite a few characters spread about the place, but it doesn't feel disjointed and all hangs together quite well.
The action is, as always, very well written and moves at a breakneck pace (so much so that I sometimes have to go back a bit because I've missed something).
Although Alpha are the main team that the core of the plot hangs off, I have to admit that I have a soft spot for Wesley's story arc. He's an average guy, thrown in at the deep end, making it up as he goes along, all the while convinced he's about to make a terrible mistake. He's easier to relate to than the rock hard killing machines of Alpha team; not that I have anything against them, as some of the best action comes from their side of things. It's just nice to see an average guy muddling through.
My only complaint would be in regard to the length. Very few of the books in this series go over ten hours, with a couple of them being closer to eight. They're great books, so that buys them a bit of slack, but I'd struggle to justify spending a credit on them if they were much shorter. I think some of the books much later in the series are longer, so maybe this is a complaint that's been addressed.
Book four spends a lot of time jumping from place to place, as there is a lot going on and a quite a few characters spread about the place, but it doesn't feel disjointed and all hangs together quite well.
The action is, as always, very well written and moves at a breakneck pace (so much so that I sometimes have to go back a bit because I've missed something).
Although Alpha are the main team that the core of the plot hangs off, I have to admit that I have a soft spot for Wesley's story arc. He's an average guy, thrown in at the deep end, making it up as he goes along, all the while convinced he's about to make a terrible mistake. He's easier to relate to than the rock hard killing machines of Alpha team; not that I have anything against them, as some of the best action comes from their side of things. It's just nice to see an average guy muddling through.
My only complaint would be in regard to the length. Very few of the books in this series go over ten hours, with a couple of them being closer to eight. They're great books, so that buys them a bit of slack, but I'd struggle to justify spending a credit on them if they were much shorter. I think some of the books much later in the series are longer, so maybe this is a complaint that's been addressed.
September 28, 2019
It's not often that the opening paragraphs of a book gets me hooked on it but this book did. The way the writer described the events that began to happen was one of the best ways of using literacy, I admit I was captured by his discriptions of events of how those people furthest away from the initial impact area handled themselves and how they rallied together to fend off their worst nightmare. I could hardly put this book down because I was so caught up in the minute by minute action, feeling I was part of the group facing the hoard that was out to destroy humanity. I couldn't wait wait to get book two so before I finished the first book I ordered the second volume. If your into zombies and feel like getting caught up in constant action then this is the book to read.
May 24, 2020
I fucking hate this 4th book. I understand that the author keep switching pov every chapter to built the atmosphere, but for the love of god dont fucking do it while the previous chapter is on the peak tension.
During the Mexican standoff between Handon crew vs Rednecks the next chapter suddenly switch to another character and completely ruin all the tension. I dont even bother to read the next couple chapters until I reached the ones that continue the mexican standoff part.
Just imagine yourself watching Game of Thrones Battle of the Bastards and right before Jon Snow trampled by the cavalry, the scene suddenly switch to Bram fucking off in the middle of the jungle, how pissed would you be? Thats how pissed i am reading this.
During the Mexican standoff between Handon crew vs Rednecks the next chapter suddenly switch to another character and completely ruin all the tension. I dont even bother to read the next couple chapters until I reached the ones that continue the mexican standoff part.
Just imagine yourself watching Game of Thrones Battle of the Bastards and right before Jon Snow trampled by the cavalry, the scene suddenly switch to Bram fucking off in the middle of the jungle, how pissed would you be? Thats how pissed i am reading this.
October 15, 2019
Intense action dragging you through a pulse pounding plot as the various teams and people are constantly pressed by the never resting dead. Team Alpha is the definition of elite warriors and what remains of humanity's fighters are an example of determination. This continues to be one of my favorite zombie series'.
Not only has it been good thus far, but the situation on the Virginia coast is turning into an interestingly crazy perdicament. It's always as if the zombies themselves weren't enough, there always seems to be five more sh*t sandwiches being thrown on their dinner plate, and no way in sight to eat around 'em.
Not only has it been good thus far, but the situation on the Virginia coast is turning into an interestingly crazy perdicament. It's always as if the zombies themselves weren't enough, there always seems to be five more sh*t sandwiches being thrown on their dinner plate, and no way in sight to eat around 'em.
December 10, 2022
I'm not sure why I bought this book. I lost interest in the last book. It's like I really want to like the series but I just don't. The technical points of the story are alright. He knows his weaponry and does well writing convincing military characters..... I just don't find myself really caring about anything. They're to dry. Not much substance to the characters if I don't care about them then I don't care what happens to them. That and well there's nothing special about the zombies. They're just there. Just an obstacle. Kinda like scenery. So I think this is it for me on this book series. I hate giving up on it but I just can't get immersed into the story.
June 10, 2018
Holy accidents!
Alpha Team..everything that can go wrong ..goes wrong and yet somehow, someway people survive. I just love that as a reader, I never know what will happen next! There are many many characters to keep up with and the author’s world stretches over whole continents. The story isn’t just in one area of the world but all over! This book is the culmination of basically whether the JFK will get over run and or who makes it back to the ship. Heartbreaking and also miraculous!
Alpha Team..everything that can go wrong ..goes wrong and yet somehow, someway people survive. I just love that as a reader, I never know what will happen next! There are many many characters to keep up with and the author’s world stretches over whole continents. The story isn’t just in one area of the world but all over! This book is the culmination of basically whether the JFK will get over run and or who makes it back to the ship. Heartbreaking and also miraculous!
January 23, 2018
Outstanding
I couldn't put the book down once. I'm now so familiar with the characters that it is like watching a movie in my head while I am reading. It will be a while before I get to read the next book, because I have to choose between feeding the kids or buying a book. Sorry guys, as much as I love your books, the only way I get to read any of the books I get are if they are free. The kids have to eat, so they get the money spent on them. It's that simple. I can't wait to find out what happens to the characters in the future plus the new additions.
I couldn't put the book down once. I'm now so familiar with the characters that it is like watching a movie in my head while I am reading. It will be a while before I get to read the next book, because I have to choose between feeding the kids or buying a book. Sorry guys, as much as I love your books, the only way I get to read any of the books I get are if they are free. The kids have to eat, so they get the money spent on them. It's that simple. I can't wait to find out what happens to the characters in the future plus the new additions.
June 16, 2024
Vivid and intense military action continues in this installment, which outshines the characters and carries the story along with a somewhat predictable yet attractive plot. This apocalyptic series does not stick in my long-term memory that well, but after I start the next book it all comes back to me and I keep wanting to know what happens throughout each installment. Following this installment, I went ahead and purchased every book in the series and I look forward to starting the next one. I recommend this series to those who like zombie apocalypse stories and or military fiction.
April 20, 2025
I've been enjoying this series, but had a big problem with this one. At one point, a team of very experienced soldiers made a decision that struck me as incredibly stupid. It dropped me right out of the story, since I didn't believe they would ever risk their mission like that. Of course, it ended up being a plot point that drove a large chunk of the remainder of the book. I don't like books that steer the story by stupidity. I much prefer stories about smart people.
March 14, 2021
The Fight of Your Life
Maximum action fighting on all sides. Alpha team battered, but not divided. Absolutely, no time for rest for this group. This zombie series have me double checking my courage in all the chaos and death. A team is not just a team, it's family working together to survive.
Maximum action fighting on all sides. Alpha team battered, but not divided. Absolutely, no time for rest for this group. This zombie series have me double checking my courage in all the chaos and death. A team is not just a team, it's family working together to survive.
June 24, 2021
While I rarely read zombie-related books, this series has held my interest. Maybe the fact that part of it takes place in Va Beach and on naval bases where my husband was stationed has a lot to do with it. I can picture the "lay of the land" so to speak. After having read 4 back-to-back, I'm ready for something light.
April 19, 2020
The fourth installment of the series is still going strong. The team works to extract a scientist from the hot zone in the hopes that his work can lead to a cure.
As usual tons of action with great battles as nothing in the ZA is easy.
As usual tons of action with great battles as nothing in the ZA is easy.
May 17, 2022
Keeps getting better and better
The story is so full of action and suspense it makes me scared to take a breath in case I miss something!! I just wanted something to go epically right for them!!!!
The story is so full of action and suspense it makes me scared to take a breath in case I miss something!! I just wanted something to go epically right for them!!!!
July 18, 2017
Great read
This book has a ton of action and is one Good read, you just want more of this Excellent series.
This book has a ton of action and is one Good read, you just want more of this Excellent series.
April 4, 2018
Awesome. Non-stop action. Totally engaging.
April 18, 2018
There are a few issues, but it was a good read.
January 18, 2019
Loving this series
All I can say is I'm so glad I happened upon this series. This is the best of the best for ZA type of books.
All I can say is I'm so glad I happened upon this series. This is the best of the best for ZA type of books.
April 22, 2019
Maximum intensity and addiction
July 14, 2019
If you haven't read this series, give it a go!! Highly Recommended!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews