As we’ve already done a Badass Zombie Road Trip Review I forced myself to put this one off for awhile. In fact I put it off long enough that I just had to re-read it to feel that I was giving it a memorable review (that and the fact that I honestly wanted to re-read it.) With how many books I have on my Kindle, inbox and that I’ve been sent to review if I’m re-reading something you can tell right off hte bad that I enjoyed it.
The story at it’s heart is about two best friends who are taking a road trip across a few states. Jonah and Dale are in a band (or duet if Jonah has any say on the matter) and are off to play a gig that they booked. What they don’t know though is also at it’s heart this is a zombie story. Not your typical zombie story but a zombie story nonetheless.
Dale, the upbeat and popular of the two, is always going full steam ahead a mile a minute. Jonah is the quieter and more introspective of the two. It’s clearly a case of opposites attract as they were able to form an absolutely amazing friendship from a young age and have stuck together since. The one time Jonah can be outspoken though is when the two are together and on this particular road trip he wants to try something new. At a diner he suggests they take a detour through California and the strangest thing happens – Dale becomes petrified. Not being one to skip an opportunity of harassing his friend he keeps pushing the matter and when Dale is asleep decides to go through with it anyway and enter the Sunshine State.
Maybe he should have listened to Dale’s fear but how could he suspect at all that Dale’s soul was actually sold to the devil as a child and by re-entering the state it was forfeit. Wait, what? That’s right the Devil himself has come to collect his due and within a couple minutes kills Dale.
Yes one of the two main character’s is quickly dead but that won’t last long. I mentioned there was zombies didn’t I? Well Jonah doesn’t want to live without his best friend so makes a bet with Satan that could bring Dale back to life. If he can find where the Devil has hidden Dale’s soul by the end of a road trip and a week he’ll save him. If he doesn’t both of their souls are forfeit. For the duration of the trip Dale is a reanimated zombie whose around to help out. While he may be walking and talking he also has a huge hunger for flesh and no soul to guide his morals.
With each step forward that they take on the trip they seem to take another one back. Shortly after they also encounter a stranded woman who they end up helping out. Jonah falls in love with her and Dale just wants her (to eat or wake up in bed next to it’s hard to tell.) With a competition against the devil who has time for a competition to get a woman’s attention? Two guy’s in their 20’s of course.
If you are looking for a dark comedy this is a great novel to pickup. Want a good ‘buddy’ novel to read that just happens to take place on a road trip? You are set with this one. Love tales about people overcoming adversity? Just open the book! Looking for a unique take on zombies? Tonia Brown has you covered in spades.
Badass Zombie Road Trip was a unique tale about the undead and one that I highly recommend picking this one up immediately! It’ll be a quick read but a fun one.
If you want to know more about how the book came to be make sure you read our previous Interview with Tonia Brown!
Available at Amazon
