Time of Death

Book 1: Induction (A Zombie Novel)

By: Shana Festa

Narrated by: Sarah Tancer

When nowhere is safe to hide, where do you go to escape the monsters?

In a few short days, 37-year-old Emma Rossi's hard work will finally pay off. She will don her cap and gown and graduate with a degree in nursing, but not before she loses her first patient and is confronted with a new reality. In Cape Coral, Florida, a storm approaches. The dead are coming back to life.

And they're hungry.

Infection ravages the Eastern Seaboard with alarming speed while attempts to contain the spread of infection fail. Within days, a small pocket of panicked survivors are all that remain of civilization. Fighting to survive the zombie apocalypse alongside her husband, Jake, and their dog, Daphne, Emma comes face-to-face with her worst nightmare.

Relying on snarky wit and sheer determination, she is forced to commit atrocious acts to protect her family and avoid joining the ranks of the undead.

©2014 Shana Festa (P)2014 Shana Festa

An Undead Good Time!!

What made the experience of listening to Induction: A Zombie Novel (Time of Death Book 1) the most enjoyable?

I enjoyed the narration and connected with the characters easily.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I loved many of the characters but Daphney the dog was my favorite!

What does Sarah Tancer bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

She was able to relay an emotion intensity, in many situations, that reading alone would not have reached.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

As characters perished I did get a little emotional, especially when Adam and Gabby (a little girl) were turned and Meg lost Will.. I was upset when Jake disappeared, but was happy when he came back

Any additional comments?

Overall a very entertaining read and I can't wait for the next!

About as Hard to Put Down as a Zombie!

What made the experience of listening to Time of Death the most enjoyable?

The most enjoyable experience would have to be Sarah Tancer as the narrator of the story. The novel itself is brilliant, but the narration is what brought this work alive.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Time of Death?

There are really too many moments to list. The best examples, without any spoilers, are the moments when humanity is selfless and our species shine as examples of what humanity looks like when civilization implodes. All too often in zombie literature, Humans are badder than the undead. In Time of Death, it's refreshing to see better parts of humanity.

What does Sarah Tancer bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

When I read a book, it's my own voice and my interpretation of how the dialogue and narrative flow through my mind. With Sarah Tancer at the helm, the story is enunciated and spoken the way it should be to deliver the irony and sarcastic moments at the right time. She also has voices for each of the main characters that are so recognizable, I was never confused on who was speaking.

If you could take any character from Time of Death out to dinner, who would it be and why?

I liked Seth the OCD soldier. I think he had some interesting stories that I'd like to hear.

Any additional comments?

Either give this book a read, a listen, or both! If you like Zombie Literature, then Shana Festa's Time of Death: Induction. You will not be disappointed.

Meh

The story was meh. Nothing special here. I am not interested in reading the next part of the series. Seems like there were way too many cliches thrown in, just to be there.

I did enjoy the narrator, it was truly pleasant to listen to her.

Snarky Writing + Sassy Narrating = Fun!

What made the experience of listening to Time of Death: Induction (Volume 1) the most enjoyable?

I listened to the audiobook of Time of Death. The narrator, Sarah Tancer, was a great choice. She put me off guard when I first started, which I thought was great. Her sometimes laid back, sassy tone along with Shana's snarky writing made for an entertaining combination.

What did you like best about this story?

All of it. I enjoy the zombie genre.

Which scene was your favorite?

I always enjoy opening scenes. When Emma is first scrambling to escape, that was a good scene.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Such a heartbreaking scene...the mother in the car with the child in the car seat. I will say no more...

Any additional comments?

Great writing! Great fun! Keep your eye on Shana Festa for future books.

Awesome & Powerful Zombie Read!

When I started listening to this book I had my doubts that it was going to be a memorable zombie novel. I mean it starts like something Janet Evanovich (when she was good) might have written. I was enjoying the characters and the back stories and the funny nurse stories BUT what does any of that have to do with zombies or horror??

Oh My God was I wrong. When everything went to hell - I cared - a lot. At one point I had to sit down, with my hands over my mouth at the sheer horror of it. The tone of the story and the voice of the narrator made for a very real woman in a very real world overrun by flesh eating zombies.

This story was scary, funny, at times endearing, and at times so disturbing I had to stop what I was doing and just listen with my head in my hands.

Wonderful!

The bad news is zombies--the worse news is Florida

Would you listen to Time of Death again? Why?

Time of Death: Induction felt more like a one-and-done kind of novel. Solid entertainment, but didn't set itself apart enough from the glut of zombie fiction out there.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

Emma's point of view offered the most interesting aspect, with equal parts resolve and snark, she's a formidable target for the shambling hordes. Totally out of her element, but quick to adapt and wait until the coast is clear before letting the severity of the situation weigh down on her.

What about Sarah Tancer’s performance did you like?

Sarah Tancer's narration was just about flawless. Expertly captured the voice of Emma, drew me in during the tenser moments of the novel, and really zeroed in on the humanity of the story, which is a must when so much inhumanity is just around the corner.

Who was the most memorable character of Time of Death and why?

Emma, easily. Though I do have to give honorable mention to her little dog, Ralph. I was rooting for the little guy the whole way through.

Any additional comments?

The book shows off Shana's love of the genre, if not any efforts to push the genre forward. While there are moments where the story feels like it is walking on some well-trodden paths, it's never boring and manages to stay compelling enough through to the end. And with that end, I find myself interested to see where the sequel leads Emma and what's left of humanity.

Lots of Zombies, Snarky Attitudes & a Yappy Yorkie

If you could sum up Time of Death in three words, what would they be?

Snarky Zombie Action. This was a new author for me, I'm not sure if this was her freshman effort, but with a few SMH exceptions, I'd say Shana Festa hit a home run in the Zombie Apocalypse genre. This was a very fast paced, action packed gore fest with a clumsy, snarky girl hero, and her 1st hand observations of a very fast moving Zombie infestation, along with secondary characters made up of hubby, brother and sister in law. Don't get too fond of any of the characters,) even though Ms Festa does an excellent job of endearing many of them to the reader), because she doesn't have a problem killing off characters right and left. The body count of people we come to know is high. And stumbling along, learning as she goes, is Emma and her trusty side kick Daphne. No, not her husband or best friend, but her pet yorkie.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I loved several of the secondary characters, who were given page time, and appealing personalities. But was kind of sad that most of them die.I do like Emma and Jake, but found Emma a little trying at times, with more than oneTSTL moments. She falls down....a lot. But her snarky, smart aleck self musings were funny.

What about Sarah Tancer’s performance did you like?

I thought she did a terrific job.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Not really extreme reactions, but I did have a few moments were I felt sad, and a couple of times ofamusing laugh out loud.

Any additional comments?

A really nice entry into the Zombie genre. I liked this well enough that I will definitely down load book 2 right away, even though I have concerns about the length of time that has passed since publication of book 2 and still no evidence of book 3 on amazon or goodreads.One of my most frustrating things is a cliff hanger and no sequel in sight.

One of the Best Zombie Tales of All Time!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would absolutely recommend this to a friend. The story is a breath of fresh air since there are so many zombie tales out there that they get lost in the "shuffle." This one stands out and draws you in.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Time of Death?

One of the most memorable moments of TOD was the moment when Noel gives birth to her child, losing her life as a result. I tried not to because I was listening to this at work, but I cried when Emma had to tell her husband. You just can't help it. You become attached and invested in these characters and you can't help but react to what happens to them.

Which scene was your favorite?

There are too many scenes that I loved to choose one as my favorite. Does the whole book count?

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Only the beginning.....

Any additional comments?

With the flood of zombie literature in the last few years it’s hard to find something refreshing in this arena, but I am pleasantly surprised. You hear zombie these days and you shrug and go about your business like, “Oh, who hasn't done this before?” Well, I can say that “Time of Death: Induction” by Shana Festa was a breath of fresh air. As someone who reads quite a lot as well as writes I can say with confidence that this series will go very far.
When you start, it begins with how the zombie outbreak begins which is a pivotal part of any zombie tale in my opinion. As to avoid spoilers I will not go into explicit detail about the events within the work. Her characters are relatable, take you in, and embrace you until you are one with them and you feel what they feel. I cannot even begin to count how many times I smiled, laughed, or cried with them. This is one of the most important parts of any tale. Character development and investment. If you can’t become invested in the story and the characters then the work isn't for you, but with TOD you can’t help but get attached. I’m not normally a dog person, but I even found myself becoming attached to Emma’s little Yorkie Daphne. I am also a stickler for description, which Festa excels at. I felt like I was in the action and moving through these places with the characters.
Narration….this is some of the best narration work I have ever heard on an audio book (and I listen to a lot of them). I have to say, when choosing a voice for Emma they chose the best that could be found. I give TOD a five star rating all around and would give a lot more if I could. One of the best zombie tales I have had the pleasure of reading in quite some time!

Time of Death,bk 1

Any additional comments?

Overall I liked this book.It was a bit too gorey for me.I was trying to get over my Zombie aversion and though I'd like to know what happens next...I'm not sure I'll read anymore.It was a well written storyline full of characters that you wanted to get to know a bit more.The narrator,Sarah Tancer, did a great job with the material.I was gifted a copy for an honest review.If you love a Zombie eating your friends and neighbors...this is a great read!

An amazingly fun storyline with a great narrator

If you could sum up Time of Death in three words, what would they be?

Fabulousy funny zombie-hunting adventure

What other book might you compare Time of Death to and why?

Shaun of the Dead, Zombieland, The Southern Vampire Mysteries

Which character – as performed by Sarah Tancer – was your favorite?

Emma Rossi

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

"The funniest zombie apocalypse since Zombieland."

Any additional comments?

One of my favorite stories in the genre.