Chapter by Chapter

I love apocalyptic and dystopian reads. Throw in some zombies and you have got my full on attention. The best combination if you ask me. But if you throw in yet another curve ball into this mix and you have The Harvesting (Volume 1) by Melanie Karsak. Reading The Harvesting had was reminiscent of a mixture of The Walking Dead (woot!) and the movie 30 Days and 30 Nights, with a writing style that reminded me of one Rhiannon Frater, zombie apocalypse writer extraordinaire!After not having gone back home for about a year, main protagonist Layla, has received a phone call from her Grandmother to come home immediately. What Layla finds upon her return is something that she never dreamed would happen. It seems Grams is getting ready for the end of days. Not only does Layla have to deal with her grandmothers cryptic messages, but she must also face a past that she had, long ago, left behind.An outbreak takes over the world and turns the living into the walking dead. It is now up to Layla and her old neighbours to battle the oncoming onslaught of the horde and survive their new, unexpected lives together. But fighting the dead bodies of her old neighbours isn’t the only thing that Layla and her crew must face. It seems that there has always been “something” living amongst the, and the end of days has brought their existence to the surface.Now Layla and her friends must now decide what is “safe” and who they can trust. Loyalties will be tested, survival is more urgent than back in their little town of Hamletville, and a new beginning is a faint spark in this new world where the undead rule and come out to play.I was a little leery in starting The Harvesting by Melanie Karsak. After having read many books with the subject of a zombie apocalypse, I had it firm in my mind that this would be the same as the rest. As well, after having read a series about this very same subject, which was epic beyond all else, I was pleasantly surprised that The Harvesting by Melanie Karsak was an thoroughly enjoyable read!I was instantly gripped by the oncoming storyline. The writing style presented by the author was one where I found easy to follow and very entertaining. I felt as though the characters and their surroundings were easily visible in my mind, and there were times where I felt like I was right in the moment with these characters. The characters all had their own personalities where readers everywhere will find one that they will be able to relate to.I loved the spiritual aspect that was thrown in to the story. Layla finds herself able to communicate with spirits in the forest as her Russian born grandmother was able to. It brought a whole new element to the whole end of days storyline. And with a past that Layla had runaway from, it was interesting to see how, when having to face her past, how Layla was able to confront it and move past it. Layla is a strong, independent, female lead who can really kick some undead ass. I love female characters who can kick ass, and have the male populace stare wide eyed and open mouthed.Add in the dark twist found within these pages, and readers everywhere will be in for an unforgettable thrill ride. Once you think that things just couldn’t possibly get worse for these survivors, author Melanie Karsak throws in a curveball. The different twists and turns found in The Harvesting will have readers on the edge of their seats, and its these elements that will make this book unputdownable.Fans of apocalyptic reads and zombie lovers everywhere will find a new book to devour in The Harvesting, and will also find an author that will quickly rise high on the list of unforgettable horror writers. Pick up a copy and discover this awesome read for yourself. You won’t be disappointed.