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Black Tide Rising #4
Strands of Sorrow
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Science Fiction (2015)A hardened group of survivors fights back against a zombie plague that has brought down civilization.
With the world consumed by a devastating plague that drives humans violently insane, what was once a band of desperate survivors bobbing on a dark Atlantic ocean has now become Wolf Squadron, the only hope for the salvation of the human race. Banding together with what remains of the U.S. Navy, Wolf Squadron, and its leader Steve Smith, not only plans to survive; he plans to retake the mainland from the infected, starting with North America.
Smith's teenage daughters have become zombie hunters of unparalleled skill, both at land and on the sea, and they may hold the key to the rebirth of civilization on a devastated planet.
With the world consumed by a devastating plague that drives humans violently insane, what was once a band of desperate survivors bobbing on a dark Atlantic ocean has now become Wolf Squadron, the only hope for the salvation of the human race. Banding together with what remains of the U.S. Navy, Wolf Squadron, and its leader Steve Smith, not only plans to survive; he plans to retake the mainland from the infected, starting with North America.
Smith's teenage daughters have become zombie hunters of unparalleled skill, both at land and on the sea, and they may hold the key to the rebirth of civilization on a devastated planet.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published December 15, 2014
134 people are currently reading
1764 people want to read
About the author
John Ringo
98 books1,820 followersJohn Ringo is a prolific author who has written in a wide variety of genres. His early life included a great deal of travel. He visited 23 foreign countries, and attended fourteen different schools. After graduation Ringo enlisted in the US military for four years, after which he studied marine biology.
In 1999 he wrote and published his first novel "A Hymn Before Battle", which proved successful. Since 2000 Ringo has been a full time author.
He has written science fiction, military fiction, and fantasy.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
In 1999 he wrote and published his first novel "A Hymn Before Battle", which proved successful. Since 2000 Ringo has been a full time author.
He has written science fiction, military fiction, and fantasy.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 212 reviews
January 25, 2016
Another great book in this series, although as has been noted elsewhere, flawed.. While there is a resolution, there were at least 2 questions still needing answers. A) what happened to Steve's brother and the Bank of America staff survivors (if any) and B) who and why did the virus get created. Considering how much detail went into the first book about how the virus was made.. all that disappeared in the later books.. I would have liked to see an intro to each chapter detailing the history of the virus wars and the tracking of the person/s responsible, even if it finally concluded it impossible to track.. However, these are minor quibbles, and may be covered in the supposed anthology that is/may be coming. All in all, another great action book full of 'splodey goodness and some truly funny laugh out loud moments..
1st edit: Also, what happened to the pregnant female helicopter Instructor? Why bother introducing her if you weren't going to use her later? (or did I miss that??) Also, also.. Not enough Montana, who is relegated to the back bench, and apart from firing cruise missiles at undead is totally under-utilized.. (although the zombie-lanche was funny..)
1st edit: Also, what happened to the pregnant female helicopter Instructor? Why bother introducing her if you weren't going to use her later? (or did I miss that??) Also, also.. Not enough Montana, who is relegated to the back bench, and apart from firing cruise missiles at undead is totally under-utilized.. (although the zombie-lanche was funny..)
October 18, 2014
An excellent finish to a great series. As always with Ringo, he's not for everyone, so if you already don't like him, you'll hate this one too.
December 13, 2014
http://koeur.wordpress.com/2014/12/13...
Publisher: Baen
Publishing Date: January 2015
ISBN: 9781476736952
Genre: SciFi
Rating: 3.0/5
Publisher Description: With the world consumed by a devastating plague that drives humans violently insane, what was once a band of desperate survivors bobbing on a dark Atlantic ocean has now become Wolf Squadron, the only hope for the salvation of the human race. Banding together with what remains of the U.S. Navy, Wolf Squadron, and its leader Steve Smith, not only plans to survive—he plans to retake the mainland from the infected, starting with North America.
Smith’s teenage daughters have become zombie hunters of unparalleled skill, both at land and on the sea, and they may hold the key to the rebirth of civilization on a devastated planet.
Review: 13 year old girl Marine second lieutenant zombie killer, check. 15 year old girl helicopter pilot, zombie killer, check. Pink Abrahams tank, check. Yah the shtick never leaves this series of novels. What surprised me in this installment was the lack of action and the MOUNTAIN of dialogue. If you are into how the military works, coordinates, plans and fights, then this is for you. The military naming conventions are numerous and infuse just about every page.
The novel only gets interesting at about the 90% mark where the sisters go in search of VPOTUS. I really liked that the author is starting to get his firearms shjt together, except for the dumb Saiga and I really loved the social commentary on politicians generally being fucktards. There is some movement in places but all of the action takes place in and around the DC area and Florida so the epic world building movement is gone. This novel had its ups and downs in terms of dialogue and movement but was still conducted by an accomplished writer. I think he really needs better editing help in order to insure that his story line doesn’t get lost in his efforts to maintain military credibility.
Publisher: Baen
Publishing Date: January 2015
ISBN: 9781476736952
Genre: SciFi
Rating: 3.0/5
Publisher Description: With the world consumed by a devastating plague that drives humans violently insane, what was once a band of desperate survivors bobbing on a dark Atlantic ocean has now become Wolf Squadron, the only hope for the salvation of the human race. Banding together with what remains of the U.S. Navy, Wolf Squadron, and its leader Steve Smith, not only plans to survive—he plans to retake the mainland from the infected, starting with North America.
Smith’s teenage daughters have become zombie hunters of unparalleled skill, both at land and on the sea, and they may hold the key to the rebirth of civilization on a devastated planet.
Review: 13 year old girl Marine second lieutenant zombie killer, check. 15 year old girl helicopter pilot, zombie killer, check. Pink Abrahams tank, check. Yah the shtick never leaves this series of novels. What surprised me in this installment was the lack of action and the MOUNTAIN of dialogue. If you are into how the military works, coordinates, plans and fights, then this is for you. The military naming conventions are numerous and infuse just about every page.
The novel only gets interesting at about the 90% mark where the sisters go in search of VPOTUS. I really liked that the author is starting to get his firearms shjt together, except for the dumb Saiga and I really loved the social commentary on politicians generally being fucktards. There is some movement in places but all of the action takes place in and around the DC area and Florida so the epic world building movement is gone. This novel had its ups and downs in terms of dialogue and movement but was still conducted by an accomplished writer. I think he really needs better editing help in order to insure that his story line doesn’t get lost in his efforts to maintain military credibility.
January 29, 2015
I'm sorry this was the end
This was a great series over all. The main objective is returning the U.S. to human not zombie control and in pursuit of that the Wolf squadron starts clearing the bases along the southeast coast. There are successes and failures both in finding survivors and finding survivors that would be useful to the effort. The book is again told mostly from what is going on with Faith and Sophia although by the end we learn of Steve's big plan to clear large areas. A satisfying end to the series although I would still like to read more maybe find out what happened to Tom, Steve's brother and the rest of the bank staff that were in the first book. And who developed the virus and what happened to them when they were eventually found out-if they survived.
This was a great series over all. The main objective is returning the U.S. to human not zombie control and in pursuit of that the Wolf squadron starts clearing the bases along the southeast coast. There are successes and failures both in finding survivors and finding survivors that would be useful to the effort. The book is again told mostly from what is going on with Faith and Sophia although by the end we learn of Steve's big plan to clear large areas. A satisfying end to the series although I would still like to read more maybe find out what happened to Tom, Steve's brother and the rest of the bank staff that were in the first book. And who developed the virus and what happened to them when they were eventually found out-if they survived.
February 2, 2015
The ending book in this series was simply, "okay". I started to lose interest when story themes started to repeat, and repeat, and repeat, with little character development. How many times does it need to be explained that 14 year old Faith is a psychopath? Every zombie killing scene felt the same as each previous scene. First there are a few zombies, then a lot, then ammo runs low, then they have to scrum, and somehow they are now SAVED!
F*ck that.
Disappointed doesn't begin to cover it.
F*ck that.
Disappointed doesn't begin to cover it.
May 31, 2025
Another action packed story! I like how the present president is a gun toting woman Texan! Oorah!
Re-read! Still a wonderful story!
2019 re-read I'm hoping we get back to this arc soon! Or tie it into Tom's.
2021 reread I dropped a star off because some things were too over the top for me!
2025 reread!
Re-read! Still a wonderful story!
2019 re-read I'm hoping we get back to this arc soon! Or tie it into Tom's.
2021 reread I dropped a star off because some things were too over the top for me!
2025 reread!
June 2, 2017
OHH how i wish this wasn't the end its and incredible series and would love to read more on what happens all over the world and how the US Rebuilts!
Read
January 14, 2015enjoyed the series but so many ends letft dangling
I enjoyed the story but would have loved less repetitive violence and some more of the ends tied up. What happened to the brother who went with the bank executives. What happened to them. Who started it and why was that not followed up.
I enjoyed the story but would have loved less repetitive violence and some more of the ends tied up. What happened to the brother who went with the bank executives. What happened to them. Who started it and why was that not followed up.
March 20, 2015
Ringo is a total guilty pleasure - this whole series was just a very fun to read take on a zombie apocalypse.
September 23, 2017
The Smiths aren't your typical family. The father, Steven, has had survival training, the mother, Stacey, is mechanically inclined, and their teen daughters--brainy Sophia and brawny Faith--are the kind of girls to suck it up and get the job done. When the zombie apocalypse arrives, they're prepared with transportation, weaponry, and supplies. They've managed to save their lives, and now they want to save the world.
I'm not a fan of pure horror, and zombie stories generally focus on helpless people being terrified and destroyed, one by one. The Smith family aren't easy victims. They're smart, they plan and execute, and they learn from their mistakes. Once their survival is assured, they begin looking for survivors and put together a rag-tag fleet to scavenge material and to save more of humanity. Survivors who want to continue the mission are enlisted into a quasi-military, the Wolf Squadron, where they receive food, shelter, and care. Those who don't want to assist are left with supplies and weaponry to manage for themselves. Wolf Squadron clears ships and islands of the infected on their way back to the United States, where they hope to start the monumental work of retaking the world from the zombie affliction.
I enjoy logistics, so the entire situation of planning military attacks, acquiring supplies, and fitting people into the best positions for best effect was satisfying. For those who don't enjoy spreadsheets, there were ample action scenes, especially with Faith and Trixie. I've read a number of criticisms about Faith being too strong and hard-core, but I have a niece that I pictured as Faith while I was reading. She is tall, strong, beautiful, and very capable. She played nearly every sport, set weight-lifting records in high school that still stood last time I checked, and went to college with scholarships in two different sports. And was prom queen. It doesn't stretch my imagination to think a girl like Faith exists.
I'm hoping John Ringo will continue his Black Tide Rising series on land. Readers still need to learn who manufactured and released the virus. We want to know what happened to Steven's brother. I'd like to see Stacey in the spotlight for a change. And I want more of Faith!
Gentle readers: Language, violence, and unsavory sexual situations.
February 19, 2019
Strands of Sorrow, a dystopian urban fantasy, by John Ringo is about the Smith family (and, in particular, their teenage daughters) in the aftermath of a virus that has turned most of the global population into zombies. This novel is the final book in a series of four.
It is a good yarn told with a sense of humor that I appreciated. You will have to suspend credibility with regards to a 13-year old, conducting the mass slaughter of zombies and taking charge of US Marines to accomplish this, but then, you’re reading a zombie novel!
The series is short, being four novels, is enjoyable, and is certainly worth reading.
It is a good yarn told with a sense of humor that I appreciated. You will have to suspend credibility with regards to a 13-year old, conducting the mass slaughter of zombies and taking charge of US Marines to accomplish this, but then, you’re reading a zombie novel!
The series is short, being four novels, is enjoyable, and is certainly worth reading.
December 20, 2021
A little too much military jargon. I was never in the american military so many of the acronyms were over my head. Not as good as the previous books.
January 21, 2015
Despite a few misgivings, I did enjoy this series-- (this is supposed to be the last, but the author's note at the beginning plugs an upcoming anthology volume)--
The action is well-paced, though the ending of the novel seemed a bit rushed. The author does a great job describing the action and the character and mindset of the military people depicted. So despite my gripes, the series is exciting and interesting..
Yet my major gripe continues to be 13 year old Faith-- depicted as something of a superheroine--- a 13 year old capable of intense combat and uber-intelligent combat analysis and strategic thinking. To top all of this off-- she comes up with a mission (at the end) doing her own computer analysis and intelligence work that, if the author wasn't trying to make her supergirl, would've at least been initiated by another character-- a lesser support person.. who would have known how to do the computer searching, etc. of the information that she comes up with.
The author is fixated on making Faith the very center of this story, which at the beginning emphasized the entire Smith family. This fixation mars what otherwise is a fine zombie series..,. and I look forward to reading the anthology that I hope focuses on unknown characters, rather than supergirl.
During a lull in the action, Faith goes off the reservation for a period of time and makes some discoveries about the zombies activity and behavior that was formerly not noted. Then the author does NOTHING with this information. We were about to learn something more about zombies-- but NO-- we have to get Faith/Supergirl back into the action. A major flaw in this novel, in my opinion.
While at times, this series deals with death and zombies in as realistic manner as it can-- the author treats his material like he is writing for a comic book. Faith becomes super-tank-girl-Marine and that remains his skewed focus. The author deals with logistics and strategy in a realistic manner-- just failing to recognize that even a female Doogie Howser (who is good a fighting/strategy instead of doctoring) just cannot be the character to think of all of the solutions.
The action is well-paced, though the ending of the novel seemed a bit rushed. The author does a great job describing the action and the character and mindset of the military people depicted. So despite my gripes, the series is exciting and interesting..
Yet my major gripe continues to be 13 year old Faith-- depicted as something of a superheroine--- a 13 year old capable of intense combat and uber-intelligent combat analysis and strategic thinking. To top all of this off-- she comes up with a mission (at the end) doing her own computer analysis and intelligence work that, if the author wasn't trying to make her supergirl, would've at least been initiated by another character-- a lesser support person.. who would have known how to do the computer searching, etc. of the information that she comes up with.
The author is fixated on making Faith the very center of this story, which at the beginning emphasized the entire Smith family. This fixation mars what otherwise is a fine zombie series..,. and I look forward to reading the anthology that I hope focuses on unknown characters, rather than supergirl.
During a lull in the action, Faith goes off the reservation for a period of time and makes some discoveries about the zombies activity and behavior that was formerly not noted. Then the author does NOTHING with this information. We were about to learn something more about zombies-- but NO-- we have to get Faith/Supergirl back into the action. A major flaw in this novel, in my opinion.
While at times, this series deals with death and zombies in as realistic manner as it can-- the author treats his material like he is writing for a comic book. Faith becomes super-tank-girl-Marine and that remains his skewed focus. The author deals with logistics and strategy in a realistic manner-- just failing to recognize that even a female Doogie Howser (who is good a fighting/strategy instead of doctoring) just cannot be the character to think of all of the solutions.
March 5, 2015
This is better than book 3, tho that's not saying alot.
As John Ringo admits in the intro, this book was written as a afterthought, as he had intended to stop at #3 then do a short story anthology. So there are a lot of plot threads and characters that are just... dropped, from the earlier books. Which is rather annoying.
On the plus side, the book is competantly written and we get Faith's fourteenth birthday party, which is very funny. And, generally speaking, the book is entertaining & kept me reading.
Down sides are numerable.
We finally get a officer who points out that a fourteen year old is NOT a good idea to be a marine. Sadly he's SUCH a asshat, and the whole scene is written so badly, it's pointless.
The ending also is kinda awful, and why I only gave it 2 stars.
So yeah, I laughed my ass off on the ending.
Not a HORRIBLE book, but I'd suggest getting it from the Library. Or wait until paperback.
As John Ringo admits in the intro, this book was written as a afterthought, as he had intended to stop at #3 then do a short story anthology. So there are a lot of plot threads and characters that are just... dropped, from the earlier books. Which is rather annoying.
On the plus side, the book is competantly written and we get Faith's fourteenth birthday party, which is very funny. And, generally speaking, the book is entertaining & kept me reading.
Down sides are numerable.
We finally get a officer who points out that a fourteen year old is NOT a good idea to be a marine. Sadly he's SUCH a asshat, and the whole scene is written so badly, it's pointless.
The ending also is kinda awful, and why I only gave it 2 stars.
So yeah, I laughed my ass off on the ending.
Not a HORRIBLE book, but I'd suggest getting it from the Library. Or wait until paperback.
January 30, 2015
Strands of Sorrow By John Ringo
This review is almost a reprise of my review of To Sail Darkling Sea . This book takes up the story and once again the Wolf family is featured. Faith, Shewolf and Sophia, Seawolf are butt kicking once more. Faith is flat out crazy but I'm going out on a limb here and say that I have met many 13 year old girls who scared me more than the same age boy. (My guidance counselor experience is wide and varied.) Wolf Squadron has found more survivors and has expanded their operation.
Trixie is one of my favorite characters in this volume. Her depiction would make most military men cringe, however she got major results.
Ringo never fails to provide an orgy of action! He wallows in the nitty gritty of providing reading thrills, gruesome and somewhat realistic. This book also approaches the problem of rebuilding an infrastructure in able to rescue the survivors of the zombie apocalypse.
Once again Ringo also seems to infuse in his books are warrior characters who bring honor and ethics to often intolerable situations. The loyalty and camaraderie that Ringo depicts are the best aspects of his books. You would be lucky to have his characters on your six. His heroes are heroic!
I recommend the book.
Web sites: http://www.johnringo.net/Home.aspx
This review is almost a reprise of my review of To Sail Darkling Sea . This book takes up the story and once again the Wolf family is featured. Faith, Shewolf and Sophia, Seawolf are butt kicking once more. Faith is flat out crazy but I'm going out on a limb here and say that I have met many 13 year old girls who scared me more than the same age boy. (My guidance counselor experience is wide and varied.) Wolf Squadron has found more survivors and has expanded their operation.
Trixie is one of my favorite characters in this volume. Her depiction would make most military men cringe, however she got major results.
Ringo never fails to provide an orgy of action! He wallows in the nitty gritty of providing reading thrills, gruesome and somewhat realistic. This book also approaches the problem of rebuilding an infrastructure in able to rescue the survivors of the zombie apocalypse.
Once again Ringo also seems to infuse in his books are warrior characters who bring honor and ethics to often intolerable situations. The loyalty and camaraderie that Ringo depicts are the best aspects of his books. You would be lucky to have his characters on your six. His heroes are heroic!
I recommend the book.
Web sites: http://www.johnringo.net/Home.aspx
December 8, 2014
I've enjoyed this whole series. John Ringo often entertains, but the Black Tide Rising saga (note: Wikipedia calls it "Dark Tide Rising" so don't be confused) seemed like a great bang-up action series. But the thing I like the most is that Ringo wrapped it up. How many times has a trilogy turned into nine or ten volumes? This time, I was glad to see that the series wrapped up in a way that I really felt like worked.
Sure, the story might go on. But the basic conflict - the zombie apocalypse - was wrapped up, and the players put onto a new path that I really enjoyed.
You get cool ships, cool guns, tough girls and guys, zombies, airhead politicians (well, one of them), and tough politicians.
If I have a quibble, it's a small one, about the treatment of Stacey Smith. In the first book, she had a substantial amount of time on stage, and then seemed to be off stage for the next three books. The resolution of her character's arc seemed like a make-up call by a referee, as if Ringo was as aware of it as anyone else. Don't get me wrong - Sophie and Faith got LOTS of screen time, and I always enjoyed the story and the characters.
It's a fun, terrific series and I hope that everyone reads it. I can't wait to see it at the movies.
Sure, the story might go on. But the basic conflict - the zombie apocalypse - was wrapped up, and the players put onto a new path that I really enjoyed.
You get cool ships, cool guns, tough girls and guys, zombies, airhead politicians (well, one of them), and tough politicians.
If I have a quibble, it's a small one, about the treatment of Stacey Smith. In the first book, she had a substantial amount of time on stage, and then seemed to be off stage for the next three books. The resolution of her character's arc seemed like a make-up call by a referee, as if Ringo was as aware of it as anyone else. Don't get me wrong - Sophie and Faith got LOTS of screen time, and I always enjoyed the story and the characters.
It's a fun, terrific series and I hope that everyone reads it. I can't wait to see it at the movies.
October 20, 2016
Mostly I enjoyed this zombie series for being totally unlike other such series.
1. Zombies were created as a result of a bioweapon and will eventually die of starvation/water.
2. Most such series concentrate on a core group of people and their battles against zombies and other groups. Here there is a core group, but it enlarges taking in more and more people and organizing to reclaim territory. There is very little fights between groups of people.
3. The large part of the series after the initial conditions is at sea. Makes a lot sense with a z breakout that those at sea would survive the initial infection for the most part. Still most of the action involves clearing such ships of "infected" and rescuing survivors.
4. So underlying military action is the driving force with the necessary organization and control.
The odd parts are the normal Ringo odd parts. Like the main family with young women who become major warriors (sometimes referred to as jailbait by others), There was another Ringo series with the same setup. Not much of the sex part that intrudes into his book, but a slight aspect of it.
1. Zombies were created as a result of a bioweapon and will eventually die of starvation/water.
2. Most such series concentrate on a core group of people and their battles against zombies and other groups. Here there is a core group, but it enlarges taking in more and more people and organizing to reclaim territory. There is very little fights between groups of people.
3. The large part of the series after the initial conditions is at sea. Makes a lot sense with a z breakout that those at sea would survive the initial infection for the most part. Still most of the action involves clearing such ships of "infected" and rescuing survivors.
4. So underlying military action is the driving force with the necessary organization and control.
The odd parts are the normal Ringo odd parts. Like the main family with young women who become major warriors (sometimes referred to as jailbait by others), There was another Ringo series with the same setup. Not much of the sex part that intrudes into his book, but a slight aspect of it.
October 12, 2014
WAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! My bestest friend in the whole entire world clued me in to this coming out... and I started reading it about 4 or so in the morning - NO SLEEP FOR THE WICKED!!!! There were some typos that bothered me in the beginning, but then the reader's trance/increased deliriousness TOOK CARE OF THAT!!! It was fantastic!!! The e-arc cost 15 bucks but TOTALLY WORTH IT!! I had to try really hard not to laugh obnoxiously loud. I did less good then I usually did with the acronyms BECAUSE OF THE EXHAUSTION. I'm glad I have tomorrow off because I'm going to try to stay awake until 2 or 3 or SIX ish so I just sleep 12 hours or so to reset my clock. YAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAY, also.... not the last book right? Right?!?! I *NEED* to know what happens way later!!! Way, way later!!!!!
Okay, I'mma go read more trashy books now, because my brain can't handle complicated stuffs... like at all...
Okay, I'mma go read more trashy books now, because my brain can't handle complicated stuffs... like at all...
June 4, 2015
Really awesome series. Had me laughing and crying more then once. Only bad thing about this series is its incomplete. John Ringo has seemed to have developed the bad habit of starting series and not giving them satisfactory endings.
Spoiler..
All through the books you keep hearing about how they are going to take back the US from the infected. You would expect that the end of the series would have that in the conclusion.. Sadly no..We are left at a point where They haven't even taken care of one state..
Have to be honest here..I LOVE 99% of all John Ringo's books. Sadly it seems to me that he lacks the ability to follow through and complete any of them. Better way to say it is = He leaves them way way too far open for more books in the future. This series is just BEGGING for another one or two books just to finish it.
Spoiler..
All through the books you keep hearing about how they are going to take back the US from the infected. You would expect that the end of the series would have that in the conclusion.. Sadly no..We are left at a point where They haven't even taken care of one state..
Have to be honest here..I LOVE 99% of all John Ringo's books. Sadly it seems to me that he lacks the ability to follow through and complete any of them. Better way to say it is = He leaves them way way too far open for more books in the future. This series is just BEGGING for another one or two books just to finish it.
December 23, 2014
A fitting end to The Black Tide Rising series. John Ringo tosses in plenty of twists and turns as Wolf Squadron and the remains of U.S. military and government seek to liberate Continental America from the infected. Blount Island was interesting, especially when Faith got Trixie. The ending was a bit "deux de machine" to get out of a bad political choice, but made for a fun ending. Read and enjoy!
January 14, 2015
This series has grown progressively more and more military, and I found some of the characters unbelievable, but I persisted with all four books of the series. A somewhat different take on a zombie apocalypse. I also thought that working out a kind of solution, or at least resolving a working government, came very suddenly. I got a kick out of a minor character who had to be based on one of my favorite actors. Of the four books in the series, I enjoyed the first one the best.
December 26, 2024
I read this in one day. I enjoyed it, but I didn't find it as impactful as the other books in the series. I'm not really sure why. The third book, as Ringo notes in the acknowledgements, was set to be the last in this series and it would have worked fine for that. The focus shifts in this book, away from the oceans and onto land. Also, we never find out what happened to Tom, Steve's brother, from the first book.
December 31, 2014
Hate to see it end, can't wait for anthologies...
John Ringo was right book 4 was needed actually book 5 and 6. America, Russia, China, finding his brother, finding the creator of virus. I Loved the book and whole series, excellent character progression. A must read if this is the end a fitting end it is. Maybe a new Special Circumstances book next????
John Ringo was right book 4 was needed actually book 5 and 6. America, Russia, China, finding his brother, finding the creator of virus. I Loved the book and whole series, excellent character progression. A must read if this is the end a fitting end it is. Maybe a new Special Circumstances book next????
February 11, 2015
Another series comes to a rousing conclusion, if not the end. It seems that Ringo is getting ready to spin this series off into another shared world, as his intro mentions a forthcoming anthology. I was really hoping that he might wrap things up within the text of this last novel, but I suppose the world he created has grown too large to be covered by one author.
October 11, 2022
Superb! Well worth the $15 I spent on the EArc! A fully satisfying conclusion to a totally enjoyable series. 2018 reread: Still just as superb, on the reread.
August 1, 2017
This is statement about the entire series.
This is an odd series for me. I can't recommend it, but at the same time, I read/listened to 4 books in this series. It is frustratingly sexist, and at times, feminist. Every woman who is capable is smoking hot, DD. Men, are men. They cannot be expected to control their sexual desires while trapped. The women either need to "submit" or the men with rape them. Really, John? Really. Civilians are close to incapable at time, and most military are flawless. The writing is serviceable, and it is certainly gun/military porn for that target audience. In each of the books, there are sections of text (often entire pages) of sequences that serve no point to the entire story. In this last case, a entire section on how zombie blood/fluids can effectively "grease" an Abrams. In the previous book, an entire passage about how a woman/teenager can get pregnant in a rubber raft with water but never have sex (and the characters/baby never appearing ever in the novel). Both sections are just a waste of text. And lastly, the characters. Entire characters are introduced and dropped (Stacy, Nightwalker -- though he appears a bit after being dropped), and then their is the absurdity of our main characters Sophie and Faith (13 and 15), but fully capable adults at all times. I have no issue with them being kids, but 13 is just too young for what he does with them. Add a couple years to them, and it wouldn't have been an issue.
However, I read all 4 of these things. Ringo is not a good writer for me. I am not a gun nut, into military procedure and training, but every book, despite being really not that good, at the end made me want to find out what happens in the next one and with the entire story. Each book at the end, was ramped up enough for me to want to read/listen more. If I were actually reading these, I don't know if I would have finished, but trapped in the car, I pushed through.
In the end, it was a enjoyable excursion in a zombie apocalypse with a frustratingly sexist borderline misogynist writer. If you like zombies with long descriptions of guns going off, military procedure, long fight sequences, the word oorah, the marines, disappearing characters, and a total lack of logical plot sequences, this series is for you.
This is an odd series for me. I can't recommend it, but at the same time, I read/listened to 4 books in this series. It is frustratingly sexist, and at times, feminist. Every woman who is capable is smoking hot, DD. Men, are men. They cannot be expected to control their sexual desires while trapped. The women either need to "submit" or the men with rape them. Really, John? Really. Civilians are close to incapable at time, and most military are flawless. The writing is serviceable, and it is certainly gun/military porn for that target audience. In each of the books, there are sections of text (often entire pages) of sequences that serve no point to the entire story. In this last case, a entire section on how zombie blood/fluids can effectively "grease" an Abrams. In the previous book, an entire passage about how a woman/teenager can get pregnant in a rubber raft with water but never have sex (and the characters/baby never appearing ever in the novel). Both sections are just a waste of text. And lastly, the characters. Entire characters are introduced and dropped (Stacy, Nightwalker -- though he appears a bit after being dropped), and then their is the absurdity of our main characters Sophie and Faith (13 and 15), but fully capable adults at all times. I have no issue with them being kids, but 13 is just too young for what he does with them. Add a couple years to them, and it wouldn't have been an issue.
However, I read all 4 of these things. Ringo is not a good writer for me. I am not a gun nut, into military procedure and training, but every book, despite being really not that good, at the end made me want to find out what happens in the next one and with the entire story. Each book at the end, was ramped up enough for me to want to read/listen more. If I were actually reading these, I don't know if I would have finished, but trapped in the car, I pushed through.
In the end, it was a enjoyable excursion in a zombie apocalypse with a frustratingly sexist borderline misogynist writer. If you like zombies with long descriptions of guns going off, military procedure, long fight sequences, the word oorah, the marines, disappearing characters, and a total lack of logical plot sequences, this series is for you.
June 9, 2019
An airborne plague is turning people into zombie-like creatures. The lucky few saw something like this might be possible. One family sets their survival plan in motion at the earliest moment so they manage to stay ahead of the collapse of civilization. They take to the sea in a sailboat. But while they manage to survive, they find out the problems have followed them even in the vast oceans of the world. They realize that they can survive but if they want to ever have a real life again, it will be up to them to start saving the world.
This the fourth and last book of the main series. It wraps up the story that was grown in the first 3 books so you definitely should read them in order.
There are tons of zombie books out there. Also tons of stories where people manage to survive and start fighting the zombies. But they usually have a ton of problems as well. The zombies are nearly unstoppable whether they are created from a scientific method (plague) or magical method (the dead walking) or even if as so often happens, nothing explains the zombies. The zombies continue to spread because they keep attacking people (to either eat them or at least their brains) which really doesn't make sense. If the zombies are eating the people (or their brains) where are the new zombies coming from? They should just be getting killed, not turned for the most part. This type of zombie has to actually destroyed since they don't succumb to disease, starvation , or other problem.
But the Black Tide Rising series is different. It has zombies that follow logic and actual real world biology. The disease that causes the zombies acts like a disease. People can die form it. If they turn into a raging zombie-like monster, they can still starve to death and die for exposure (even if they more resistant to these). A vaccine is possible. The people fighting the zombies have actual plans better than "Look, zombies. Let's shoot them a lot out in the open."
The characters in the series are awesome. They are well-thought out and complex. It is true that some characters don't get much time in the spotlight (the mom is the best example.) But there are a lot of characters and the number grows as the series goes on, so not all could get a lot of focus. I did enjoy that the 2 main characters turned out to be the teenage girls.
This the fourth and last book of the main series. It wraps up the story that was grown in the first 3 books so you definitely should read them in order.
There are tons of zombie books out there. Also tons of stories where people manage to survive and start fighting the zombies. But they usually have a ton of problems as well. The zombies are nearly unstoppable whether they are created from a scientific method (plague) or magical method (the dead walking) or even if as so often happens, nothing explains the zombies. The zombies continue to spread because they keep attacking people (to either eat them or at least their brains) which really doesn't make sense. If the zombies are eating the people (or their brains) where are the new zombies coming from? They should just be getting killed, not turned for the most part. This type of zombie has to actually destroyed since they don't succumb to disease, starvation , or other problem.
But the Black Tide Rising series is different. It has zombies that follow logic and actual real world biology. The disease that causes the zombies acts like a disease. People can die form it. If they turn into a raging zombie-like monster, they can still starve to death and die for exposure (even if they more resistant to these). A vaccine is possible. The people fighting the zombies have actual plans better than "Look, zombies. Let's shoot them a lot out in the open."
The characters in the series are awesome. They are well-thought out and complex. It is true that some characters don't get much time in the spotlight (the mom is the best example.) But there are a lot of characters and the number grows as the series goes on, so not all could get a lot of focus. I did enjoy that the 2 main characters turned out to be the teenage girls.
November 12, 2017
What zombie apocalypse fiction, both print and screen, has been demanding -the mechanized fight. Okay maybe that demand is just for those of us who actually spent significant periods of time as mounted warriors like me. Mix usual Ringo action scenes, zombies, and an Abrams and there was no way I was not giving this five stars. My pulse was up, memories of the smell of main gun firing and turbine exhaust were fresh in my mind, and I couldn't put it down.
It's got some typical issues with Ringo. His characters can be flat and simplistic. He can spin up threads in the plot just to be preachy before he drops them. Major plot points serve to set up the action scenes but never wrap up. The whole thing has the feel of an installment in the middle of a series that ends abruptly rather than a last book before opening up the universe.
As much as I love some of the scenes where zombies get used as track grease, Ringo shows that his military experience was an airborne infantryman not a tanker. Some of his accuracy issues are irrelevant to the overall plot. (Spot the amazing 3 armed tank commander.) Some require suspension of disbelief because of affects on the plotline. Still we get zombie crunchies ... finally!
It's got some typical issues with Ringo. His characters can be flat and simplistic. He can spin up threads in the plot just to be preachy before he drops them. Major plot points serve to set up the action scenes but never wrap up. The whole thing has the feel of an installment in the middle of a series that ends abruptly rather than a last book before opening up the universe.
As much as I love some of the scenes where zombies get used as track grease, Ringo shows that his military experience was an airborne infantryman not a tanker. Some of his accuracy issues are irrelevant to the overall plot. (Spot the amazing 3 armed tank commander.) Some require suspension of disbelief because of affects on the plotline. Still we get zombie crunchies ... finally!
March 7, 2024
This is the fourth and perhaps final installment of the Black Tide Rising series by John Ringo; at least involving the Wolf Squadron storyline. There are other co-written short story collections and a fifth volume that follows Steve Smith's brother, a security consultant who escapes a zombie infested New York City with the cure of the zombie plague (but that's another story).
In this installment, Wolf Squadron finally turns its attention on the mainland USA clearing military bases along the Eastern Seaboard and rescuing more survivors along the way. Among them is a two star general who wants to try and liberate Washington D.C. which is a much taller order but with a mind to try and find out if any civilian leaders had survived. At first the mission seems to be a disaster but in the end is a satisfying success that leaves the reader with a clear map of how the zombie war can be won. As Churchill once famously said, "It's not the beginning of the end but perhaps it is the end of the beginning." Not a bad way to end it I suppose and the door is open for more later on if Ringo decides to pick it up again. In spite of their storylines straining credibility I would really like to see how the Smith sisters turn out. They had me rooting the whole way!
In this installment, Wolf Squadron finally turns its attention on the mainland USA clearing military bases along the Eastern Seaboard and rescuing more survivors along the way. Among them is a two star general who wants to try and liberate Washington D.C. which is a much taller order but with a mind to try and find out if any civilian leaders had survived. At first the mission seems to be a disaster but in the end is a satisfying success that leaves the reader with a clear map of how the zombie war can be won. As Churchill once famously said, "It's not the beginning of the end but perhaps it is the end of the beginning." Not a bad way to end it I suppose and the door is open for more later on if Ringo decides to pick it up again. In spite of their storylines straining credibility I would really like to see how the Smith sisters turn out. They had me rooting the whole way!
July 26, 2019
Love this book. I only have one real problem. During the events of PI The wolf marines let faith leave WHAT no one follows her. Good leaders in the military are at times Rare, but Troop loyalty to a good officer/NCO under normal everyday non combat circumstances can be crazy because you know their going to take care of you no matter what. Now take Faith and her marines small tight unit that has seen major action in unbelievable circumstances and an officer that went though literal hell to pull you out of certain death (LRI) after command gave up on your a**. They love her as only military members can and they just let her walk away because of some unknown Colonel not in the command structure that they don’t know says she not qualified to lead you. as soon as she left the convoy her troops are going to react and considering the overall stressers and relationship going awol to bring her back right the hell now because she’s OUR LT and screw the Consequences would be more within believable. At the end of the day she’s one of us and that matters.
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