Based on, and released simultaneously with the video game of the same name, Dead Island tells the tale of a paradise island called Banoi, and what happens when only a handful of survivors are left after an outbreak of plague leaves the majority of the guests as the undead.... Zombies!!!!!! 

Four survivors, an island’s worth of zombies, and a tale of carnage, swearing and bloody dispatches ensue. A mystery voice is the only thing that might guide them or lead them to a horrific ending. 

I enjoyed this book. It does far more for the story than the game (as is always the case!) and really allows you to get to know the characters more. For fans of the game, it will bring even more to the title as you get to flesh out (no pun intended) how Sam B and Co. ended up on Banoi and just what makes them tick. 

Of course for fans of horror, this is a fun ride. Packing in a massive 334 pages worth of zombie smashing goodness, this title does hint strongly at a sequel, which thank god the game has gone well enough that a sequel sounds like a no brainer.  

All the elements that make for a good zombie tale are present here, overwhelming masses of the undead, weapons, killing, killing and more killing, along with main characters that are well enough presented that you actually care whether they make it through the book or not. 

I haven’t played the game yet, however, after reading this book, I am more determined than ever to get my hands on a copy and see how closely my imagination played out compared to how the game developers designed both the zombies and our protagonists. This is a hell of a good zombie read and I really do hope that they make good with the sequel. 

Tory Favro