Imagine a Christmas tree filled with zombie ornaments, a horde of undead Santas, or bloody decorations. Looking for unique decorations or gifts inspired by your favorite horror films? Look no further! From eerie ornaments to spooky stockings, these unique gift ideas will thrill any fan of the undead. These zombie Christmas decor and horror-inspired gift ideas will make this holiday season, festive, frightful and fun!

Please note the links in this post are affiliate links. We may earn from qualifying purchases you make after clicking the links here. The good news is, there’s no additional cost or effort involved for you. Purchasing through our links here simply rewards us for our hard work. With that said, let’s jump straight into our picks for the best Zombie Christmas decoration and gift ideas.

Zombie Santa Mug

This handmade zombie Santa mug is sure to turn heads. This functional piece of art is crafted with amazing attention to detail. This hand painted ceramic mug features hand painted zombie details. The realistic wounds and bloody effects are sure to bring a creepy grin to that zombie loving horror fan!

Ginger-Dead Men Ornaments

These gingerbread men are not okay. Apparently zombie garden gnomes have a sweet tooth and they’ve been feasting. These adorable gingerbread men ornaments are unlucky zombie victims. Choose from a variety of different designs. Our personal favorite is the Gingerbread man missing a chunk of his foot with a zombie garden gnome on his back. Who are we kidding though? We want them all! Check out this Etsy seller’s shop using the links above to check out all of their fun designs! A zombie gnome riding a squirrel, a gnome impaled by a snowflake and a crazed, bloody garden gnome munching on a candy cane are just a few examples. The fun doesn’t stop there. They have a ton of other unique handmade products for any time of year.

Zombie Santa Christmas Statue

If you’re looking for a uniquely terrifying addition to your Holiday decor, this little guy is it. This amazing zombie Santa statue is cast in premium gypsum cement and hand painted with stunning detail. This sturdy Zombie Christmas decoration weighs in at about 10 pounds and stands around 13 inches tall. The lifeless zombie eyes, blood stained beard and the fact that he’s still clutching a candy cane make this piece the perfect combination of scary and festive. This is a limited edition, handmade gem that is usually made in very low numbers. We’d recommend grabbing one now if you’re interested!

Zombie Christmas Tree Ornament

If you like your Holiday zombie decor a little less gory, this subtle little ornament is the perfect solution. This adorable handmade clay ornament features the cutest zombie Christmas tree design you’ve ever seen. This brightly glazed ornament is sure to make any one who sees it smile. The best part is, this affordable gift idea isn’t over the top or too in your face with gory, bloody details. We love the simple and natural design!

Zombie Wrapped Up in Lights Ornament

This fun ornament puts a comical spin on a zombie themed Christmas. Apparently the company Christmas party didn’t go swell this year. This ornament features a zombie wearing a Santa hat and he has somehow managed to shamble through some Holiday lights. He’s tangled up and his torn, bloody and tattered clothing have seen better days. He won’t let that stop him! He’s intent on shuffling on and spreading Holiday cheer! Add some hilarious undead holiday motivation to your decor this season with this great gift idea. This zombie Christmas ornament measures approximately 4-3/8″ tall. Click the image or link above to check this item out on Etsy.

Plush Zombie Elves

Not all zombie themed Holiday gifts need to be scary and gory. These plush zombie elves are the perfect example of just how cute Holiday zombies can be! These fun plush fleece zombie elves stand about 9 inches tall and are perfect for snuggling, displaying and collecting. These fully embroidered undead masterpieces are a perfect gift for zombie fans young and old alike! They are available with either a green or red suit but who can decide? We highly recommend grabbing them both. You don’t want to split up twins do you? These are part of the absolutely adorable ZOMS plush zombies collection. Be sure to check them all out by visiting the links above.

Zombie Santa Ornament

Nothing puts the finishing touch on an undead Holiday, like a zombie Santa head Christmas tree ornament. This delightfully gory ornament features a zombie themed Santa. You don’t want to be on this guy’s Naughty List. Father Christmas is missing his left eye. By the looks of his blood stained beard, old Saint Nick has been eating more than cookies on Christmas eve. This amazing horror themed ornament features resin and Miliput construction. This would look great hanging from any horror or zombie themed mantle or Christmas tree.

Happy Horrordays Bloody Santa Christmas Wreath

We absolutely love this fun Holiday wreath for horror fans. This wreath is so well done, many casual observers won’t notice a thing. The outer wreath features beautiful festive red, white and black Christmas ornaments. White snowflakes and holly add to the holiday vibe. Those who walk by without paying attention won’t suspect a thing. Anyone who takes a closer look will notice this isn’t your typical holiday decoration. A white banner at the top of the wreath reads “Happy Horrordays” in a bloody font. Peppermint candies contrast with the subtle blood spatters. The main event is clearly Santa. His left eye has been impaled with a candy cane and he’s clearly not doing so well. While this one may not right for young impressionable children, families or individuals with a darker sense of humor will absolutely love this one. This handmade item is sure to sell quickly!

Zombie Santa Christmas Wrapping Paper

The perfect zombie themed Christmas gift demands the perfect wrapping paper. This zombie Santa Claus themed gift wrapping paper features funny zombie Santas walking with outstretched arms. The Holiday season has clearly taken a toll on Santa. He’s missing a shoe and his bloody coat is surely going to be stained for good. This adorable zombie wrapping paper is available in 30 inch wide rolls measuring 1.67, 6 or 12 feet long.

So there you have it. . . our picks for the best Zombie and horror themed Holiday and Christmas decor. If you’re looking to put a spooky, undead twist on the Holidays, the products we’ve shown here are a perfect solution. Many of the gifts we’ve featured here are unique creations sold via Etsy sellers. Why? Etsy has more unique and original gift ideans than you can ever imagine. Pick from an endless array of gift ideas. You’ll find one of a kind handmade items, vintage collectibles and much more. Need some more unique gift ideas? Be sure to check out the Etsy Holiday Hub for help finding a gift that is right for you, your interests and your budget!

Not seeing what you’re after here? Check out some more awesome zombie themed Holiday items on Amazon.

Be sure to come back to this post in the future as we plan to update it with our latest and greatest discoveries. In the meantime, ZombieGift.com wants to wish you and yours a very Happy Holiday season!

The post Zombie Holiday Survival Guide: Top Zombie Christmas Decor and Gifts for a Horror-Filled Holiday appeared first on ZombieGift.com Zombie Blog.

Let’s back up here for just a second. We don’t want our zombie fan cards revoked. We don’t have a problem with blood and guts. You can’t write a good zombie book without them. Too many writers use gore as a crutch. It’s so common when an author offers to send us their book for review, we’ve come to expect much gore and little content.

When author CJ Grant asked if we would like to review her new zombie themed book, she didn’t provide us with a lot of details. We were intrigued but expected the same old song and dance. Kit’s Rebellion was different from the very beginning.  

When this first crossed our desk, we were skeptical. It didn’t look like what we’re used to. We heard, “Isn’t this supposed to be a book about zombies?” more than once. The cover isn’t over the top. No guns. No blood. No zombies. No hazmat suits or flashy biohazard symbols. If you were casually browsing for a zombie novel, you’d likely walk right by this one on the bookshelf. If you did flip it over to read the back cover, you’d only see a couple references to zombies.

We opened the book up and read the first sentence, “I witnessed my first execution when I was six years old.” At that point we got it. This isn’t going to be a book about zombies. We were correct.

Unlike so many other undead themed books, the story here isn’t zombies. There are plenty of encounters with the walking dead; they just aren’t the central focus. The real story resides with the characters and their unique struggles. This is a book about humanity, relationships and survival. Above all, Grant pens a tale about the struggle to have the courage and conviction to stand up for what is right in the face of adversity. Kit’s Rebellion doesn’t even start where most of zombie tales start.

Kit’s Rebellion Plot Synopsis

It opens in April of 2043, long after the initial outbreak. As a reader you don’t learn much about the actual beginning. Instead you’re thrown into the lives of survivors many years after the outbreak.

Most of civilization is gone and the world has reverted to a more primitive time. What is left of humanity is scattered into groups of survivor camps. Necessities like food and supplies are limited. Ammunition is a precious commodity and most of the encounters with shamblers are handled via bow and arrow or knives when possible. When survivors aren’t fighting off flesh eating monsters they’re dealing with the unique challenges of this harsh world. At best they’re trying to coexist with themselves and other survivors. At worst they’re defending themselves against desperate and violent bands of raiders while surviving among the walking dead.

Our protagonist, Kit O’Brien , is a twenty year old who grew up as an orphan in one of these groups of survivors, Camp Kraft. A rising member of the militia, Kit is also one of the camp’s most skilled fighters.

A brutal form of mixed martial arts style fighting is now the main source of entertainment. These fights generally end up with bad bruises, broken bones and very sore bodies. Fighters are battered but they live to fight another day. That is, until the camp’s leader, Governor Garret Kraft, decides to up the ante and raise the stakes for his own amusement.

When Governor Kraft announces he’s going to be starting gladiator style matches where competitors fight to the death, people start to talk. While on a supply run Kit and other members of the militia discover a dark secret. To make matters worse, Garret throws some special and very dangerous surprises their way during gladiator matches. This coupled with witnessing a questionable execution or two causes Kit and other members of the militia to grow concerned about their leader.

As this book’s tagline says, sometimes loyalty means rebellion. Kit and the other members of the rebellion must choose loyalty to their camp’s leader or loyalty to one another and the greater good. As if juggling all of this isn’t enough, along the way Kit and the others must deal with the same things most of us worry about in normal life: friendship, relationships and the struggle to find ourselves and our place in the world.

Will Kit and the others decide to overthrow the governor? Will they find a way to lead their camp without losing all sense of right or wrong? How? You’ll have to read Kit’s Rebellion from CJ Grant to find out.

PROS:

• A unique angle on the zombie genre with enough familiarity to satisfy zombie fiction addicts. This one is good for die hard zombie fans or general fans of fiction.
• Relatable and well-developed characters.
• Zombies, gore and violence are the side dishes and not the main course here.
• The author doesn’t delve too deep into the main cause of the outbreak. As a reader you’re thrown into this new world and you deal with it as it happens. We enjoyed this and it made us more immersed in the story. This small touch made it feel like we were part of the story instead of an outsider looking in.
• Length of 305 pages is good.  Avid readers could consume this in a single sitting or over a light weekend. More casual readers will enjoy the book’s pacing and length.
• Grant concludes the story in a good place. There are no agonizing anxiety provoking cliff hangers here. She wraps things up nicely while leaving the option to continue the story wide open.

CONS:

• Some Zombie aficionados may find this one needs more undead gore.     
• There are a few moments involving mature situations. The author doesn’t go into vivid detail, but some adult language is used. Intercourse is used as a rite of passage and to repay debt in this new world. As a result, the topic is broached multiple times. This may be less than ideal for younger readers and unsettling to those easily offended. Most details are implied but we felt it is still worth nothing.

Conclusion:

With Kit’s Rebellion, author CJ Grant manages to tackle the zombie genre without telling the same old tired tale. That’s no easy task. Many undead dystopian novels use violence and gore to hide a barren manuscript devoid of personality. Grant takes the opposite approach. She creates an engaging plot told through relatable characters. Instead of relying on the obvious threats she focuses on the human side things. There’s still plenty of carnage along the way. Flesh craving monsters are components and not the main product.

If you removed zombies and replaced them with almost any other threat, this would still be a great read. If you’re looking for a unique zombie book (or just an excellent book in general) we highly recommend checking this one out.

The post Zombie Book Review: Kit’s Rebellion by CJ Grant appeared first on ZombieGift.com Zombie Blog.

Redneck Roadkill’s Zombie Roadkill Escape 360 Crane Decapitator Review

What is It?

Zombie Roadkill Escape puts a fun and unique twist on the traditional R/C toy.  Need a back story? Like any zombie product worth its salt, there’s a story to be told here.

Rednecks are trapped in a junkyard with zombie hoards advancing and no snackfood left in the vending machine.  Their only hope is to grab the 1955 tow-truck, customize it into a makeshift 360 Crane Decapitator and grill impaler, and try to make their escape.  Will they make it?  It’s up to you!

-RedneckRoadkillRC.com

Check out the Video:

What’s Included?

We received the Zombie Roadkill Escape truck in retail packaging.  The following contents were inside.

• One 1/24 Scale Radio Controlled Vehicle with Independent Suspension and Removable Bumper Stickers
• Double Toggle Full Function Remote Controller (Turn Right, Turn Left, Forward and Reverse)
• 20 Cardboard Standup Zombie Figures
• Instructions

About the Truck:

Without a doubt, the highlight of this product is the awesome zombie themed remote-controlled truck. The first thing we noticed was how light it is. This truck weighs just under 11.5 ounces without batteries installed. We know what you’re thinking and light doesn’t mean cheap.

Construction is a light but slightly flexible plastic. We were expecting stiff and brittle plastic but were surprised and pleased to learn there’s just the right amount of give. This isn’t a product you should expect to take a beating, but it will survive bumps into the wall and many hours of cardboard zombie bashing!

The detail and paint work on the truck are pretty impressive given the price point. This really does look like a 1955 pickup truck hastily converted to a zombie killing machine in a junkyard.

A grated spike grill impaler mounted to the front of the truck is perfect for running down zombies.  A spiked diamond plate fortress bed allows the two zombie killing guys in the back to do their undead wet work. They’d better steer clear of the crown jewel on this zombie killing jalopy: the 360 decapitator crane. This plastic crane boom arm with dangling blade head swings wildly around the truck taking anything out in its path.

Click the Images in gallery below to open a larger view:

Controls:

At first you might be a bit disappointed to learn you can’t control the 360 crane with the remote control. Instead, the non-motorized crane swings around freely based on how you move the truck. Learning how to swing the sometimes unpredictable crane in the desired direction is almost more fun than being able to directly control it. Half of the fun is swerving wildly past a horde of cardboard zombies and watching the crane swing through and devastate them all!

The remote control offers full function driving. None of that reverse to steer nonsense you find on cheaper R/C toys! You can steer left or right and drive forward and reverse. Independent suspension allows you to handle those little bumps the apocalypse throws your way.  Another great feature is the adjustable wheel alignment. Crushing the undead can throw things out of alignment over time. If you find the truck pulling left or right when attempting to drive straight, simply adjust the wheel alignment screw on the bottom to straighten things out.

Setup and Assembly:

Initial setup is easy. Start by opening the box and then cut the plastic zip ties holding the truck in the packaging. Put on the optional removable bumper stickers if you’d like. Next, remove the plastic retainer securing the remote control to the packaging. Pop in batteries (not included) in the truck and the controller. You’ll need to supply 4 AAA batteries for the truck and 2 AA batteries for the remote. Of course, we recommend high quality alkaline batteries for best performance.

Zombies:

Setting up the cardboard standup zombie figures is super easy as well. Simply insert a cross piece into the zombie base.  The pieces fit together very loosely and getting things to stand upright at first can be a little difficult. The loose fit is a benefit when it comes to destroying the zombies. They fall over a bit easier!  Some of the zombie standups have a detachable head that fits on their body like a puzzle piece. The standups breakdown easily for storage in a plastic bag once playtime is over.

About 20 zombies are included which is essentially about 10 different designs  repeated in two different colors each. Check out some images of the zombie standups below. Click or tap the images in the gallery below to open a bigger image for a closer look!

PROS:

• Zombie Decapitator Crane is very fun
• Crane spins freely
• Lightweight and durable
• Great details on truck
• Fast
• Real rubber tires
• Independent suspension
• Zombie Standups are easy to assemble and breakdown for storage
• Range is good and pretty close to the 50′ range quoted on the box

CONS:

• Can’t control the crane with the remote
• The stickers on our truck’s front grille were starting to come off upon receipt. We smoothed them back down but they have a tendency to want to start to come off again. We’re confident this is due to the rough surface.
• Requires 6 batteries
• Cardboard zombies will take a beating over time. Plastic would be more durable but would likely raise price.
• Remote Control is a little noisy with a hard “click” when you press the controls. You get used to the sound quickly however.

ZOMBIE ROADKILL ESCAPE REVIEW CONCLUSION:

Overall we’re impressed with the Zombie Roakill Escape R/C toy. The detail work is great and taking out the cardboard zombie figures is fun and challenging.  The fact the zombie decapitator crane can’t be controlled with the remote might be disappointing at first.  We quickly discovered the non-motorized crane is most of the fun. It takes a bit of practice and skill to master the dangling decapitator. The listed MSRP is $39.99 which seems a bit high. We’ve seen this on amazon for a bit cheaper, around $29.99 which is much more reasonable in our opinion.

We give the Zombie Roadkill Escape 360 Decapitator a 4 out of 5.

That wraps up our Zombie Roadkill Escape Review.  Looking to pick one up? Check out the resources provided below.

Where to Buy:

Zombie Roadkill Escape would make a great gift idea for the young zombie fan or just the undead fan that is young at heart.

Looking to make this zombie gift your own? Get yours at RedneckRoadkillRC.com or via Amazon.com.

The post Zombie Roadkill Escape Review – 360 Crane Decapitator appeared first on ZombieGift.com Zombie Blog.

We should preface this review with a simple statement. We’re a bit biased. We love Resident Evil. We just do. Whether you’re talking about the video game series we’ve been playing since the PS1 (some of us are THAT old) or the film series . . . we love Resident Evil. With this slightly biased view I fully expected to leave a glowing Resident Evil: The Final Chapter review.  I anticipated I’d absolutely love this film. I was wrong.

Most of us take a Resident Evil film for what it is:  a shameless, gloriously violent and mind numbing entertainment experience.  There are a general set of rules that apply to any Resident Evil film up to this point in the series.

• If you’re not a fan of the video game you’ll likely be unimpressed.
• If you’re an overly critical gamer that expects the film to stay true to the games you’ll be disappointed.
• If you don’t find Milla Jovovich to be the talented and beautiful eye candy icing on the cake you’ll lose interest.
• If you expect realism you’ll be disappointed.
• If you can’t get past shotty editing, overuse of CGI effects, thin scripts, plot holes or issues with continuity this is not the film franchise for you.

All of these general rules hold true with The Final Chapter.

Like the majority of the installments in this long lived video game franchise, the reviews on The Final Chapter are quite polarized. People tend to either love it or hate it. As a huge Resident Evil fanboy I fully anticipated loving this film. I walked out of the theater on January 27^th, 2017 feeling much differently than I was expecting. In fact, I actually held off on posting this review. I thought I’d feel differently after some reflection. I thought maybe I was missing something. I don’t and I’m not.  Truth be told, I didn’t love this film.

I feel disloyal saying this, but this just isn’t the fitting send off this series deserved. Honestly, this isn’t even my favorite film in the series. In fact, this might be my least favorite film of the bunch. If this is actually the end of the Resident Evil series I’m a bit disappointed. It’s not that The Final Chapter doesn’t have all the cheap thrills and intense action RE fans have come to know and expect. It does.

You get your typical Resident Evil recap at the beginning of the film that brings everyone up to speed and then it starts assaulting your eyes and ears with incessant action.  In fact, the action feels ramped up and more relentless than ever as it should in the climax of a series with such a rabid fanbase.

Relentless action sequences are entertaining but they’re also a thinly veiled attempt to change the subject. The truth is we don’t have a script, or film, worthy of the long wait we’ve had since Retribution. To make matters worse, the majority of the action sequences are shot and edited with jerky motion and rapidly changing camera angles and views in an attempt to make the action seem more intense. Half of the time the action is a blurry, nauseating and frantic mess.

Like most Resident Evil films, take away The Final Chapter’s feverish CGI action sequences and the mesmerizing effect of Milla Jovovich and you don’t have much of a film. That seems even more transparent in The Final Chapter. Plot holes, thin script and continuity problems are more apparent than ever. Some major plot points from the previous films are completely discarded and changed this time around.  Writer and Director Paul W.S. Anderson attempts to bring things full circle with Alice returning “home” to Racoon City and The Hive. Unfortunately a lot of that seems rushed and forced. The one or two “no way” plot revelations come very late into the film. As the tired old saying goes, it is all too little, too late.

Other than the action being more jacked up than usual, this is your typical RE film through and through. If this is the average Resident Evil film with action sequences on steroids why am I complaining?  We should expect more. Milla and this series deserve more.

Any true fan can push through all of these complaints.  After all, these are all the same things fan have needed to ignore with every other film in this series.  About halfway through this film the fandom and excitement wore off and a revelation became clear. Only one thing was going to be able to save this film: an epic conclusion. You could feel the plot building to a crescendo and a conclusion that might have saved things. Unfortunately Anderson goes the other way and the conclusion falls flat.

Spoiler alert! If you haven’t seen Resident Evil: The Final Chapter you may want to cover your eyes. The rest of this review contains spoilers. With that out of the way let’s get one thing clear. We were lied to folks. This isn’t the end of the series. At least not in this fan’s opinion. Alice herself actually says her work isn’t done at the end of this film. The cheesy open ended conclusion feels much more like a lazy slap in the face than a suitable culmination of this story.

The only thing missing is a corny “To be continued. . .” before the credits.

I can’t believe I’m saying this, but they should have killed Alice. It really is the only ending that would have brought the closure we expected.   If this IS the end of the series I can’t think of a better way for our beloved hero to go out than sacrificing herself to save humanity. For those who aren’t familiar with the plot, let’s rewind.

The entire plot of Resident Evil The Final Chapter consists of one main premise. There’s an airborne anti-virus cure that can be released to save humanity. If Alice gets to it and releases it before Umbrella bombs the rest of mankind into oblivion she’ll save the day.  The airborne cure kills those infected with the T-virus and doesn’t harm the uninfected. The problem is if the cure is released it will also attack the T-Virus cells within Alice . . . killing her in the process. Alice knows this and prepares the viewer at multiple points for the inevitable conclusion they’re expecting.

Having Alice drop dead after willingly releasing the airborne cure would have been the ultimate act of badassery. It would have been the epic. “Oh Sh*t” ending this franchise deserved. It would have convinced us all that this was the end. Instead Anderson takes the easy way out and Alice doesn’t die from the cure. In fact, he takes the insult one step further when Alice tells us the cure could take years to reach all corners of the planet and her work isn’t done. What?

On one hand I wonder whether they simply didn’t have the heart to kill Alice. Maybe this is really the end but they wanted to leave Alice alive for fans. On the other hand I’m sure they took the easy way out to leave this series open for another trilogy if they choose to do so. That makes little sense to me. With the whole genetic clone cliché that plaques this franchise, and this film in particular, they could have easily let Alice die and still left the door open for future films starring Milla.

Unfortunately I fell for the media hype. I wasn’t convinced at first that this would be the end of Alice’s story. Then I read interview after interview with Paul and Milla that basically insisted this was the end.  The beginning of this film even began with a special promotional message from Milla Jovovich and Paul W.S. Anderson thanking fans for their loyalty and encouraging them to continue to go to the movies to support the industry. I bought stuff like this hook, line and sinker. Perhaps I’m mostly to blame for my disappointment. I allowed hype and excitement to create expectations of an epic final film this series probably just isn’t capable of.

Needless to say, as I walked out of the theater on release day I couldn’t help but feel a bit disappointed.  I found a question bouncing around my head and I couldn’t help but laugh at the irony. “What did I expect?”  Much like I asked and criticized others for in our Resident Evil Retribution review . . . why did I expect anything different? This time I answered my own rhetorical question with a definitive answer. I expected something more. I didn’t expect a movie that felt like all the other films. For a film that was delayed for a couple years we deserved something great. For a movie that is intended to be the end of the road for Alice we deserved something noteworthy. At a bare minimum we deserved something better than the first 5 films. Fans received none of the above.

Did I enjoy this movie? Yes. I found it entertaining and fun but that just doesn’t seem good enough. For a film that was touted as being the epic conclusion of the franchise this was an utter disappointment.   You most certainly don’t have a film worthy of being the culmination of a 6 film 15 year old franchise.

Part of me hopes this isn’t really the end and Anderson is paving the way for future installments. The other part of me actually hopes this is the end. If this is as good as it gets and the best fans will see this should be The Final Chapter.

3 out of 5

What are your thoughts? Have you seen Resident Evil The Final Chapter? We’d love to hear your thoughts and opinions in the comments section below.
 
 

The post Resident Evil The Final Chapter Review. The Final Disappointment? appeared first on ZombieGift.com Zombie Blog.

It happens to the best of us. You drag your lifeless corpse out of bed in the morning and shamble to the coffee pot to brew up something to get you through the day. Coffee, in a way, is the cure for that foggy zombie brain we all get from time to time. We’ll admit it. We’re not immune to zombie brain either. We often reach for the cheap plastic coffee can we picked up at the grocery store. It’s not the greatest stuff but it’s cheap and it does the job. There’s no reason you can’t indulge and treat yourself to a tastier zombie cure. We’re always up for trying new coffee, so when the Coffee Cousins offered to send over some of their DEATH TO ZOMBIES coffee for review we couldn’t resist.  Did it live up to the claims and our expectations? You’ll have to read on to find out!

WHAT IS IT?
DEATH TO ZOMBIES is a premium organic gourmet coffee in subtle zombie themed packaging. This is fresh roasted Honduras 100% Arabica coffee touted to be the “World’s smoothest, most delicious Coffee”. At the time of this review, DEATH TO ZOMBIES is available in ground, or bean variety if you prefer to grind to your own tastes. You can choose either 32 oz or 12 ounce bags. (We received the smaller 12 oz. bag for review.)

PACKAGING:
DEATH TO ZOMBIES comes in a high quality bag with a one way valve to help seal in and preserve freshness. The bags are such high quality that we actually underestimated how difficult it would be to cleanly tear off the top to open it. We’re used to cheap packaging and we weren’t expecting the top to reluctantly tear away leaving some jagged edges. We’re not too OCD so it only bothers us a little. Luckily it lends itself to the whole zombie theme.

After clumsily tearing off the top of the bag, we were convinced we’d destroyed the zipper seal area. In hindsight spending a few seconds with a pair of scissors would have been smarter. Fortunately our sloppy tear remained above the zipper seal area. It functions. More importantly, it stays put. That may seem like a small thing but it’s something we’re very thankful for. Everyone has used one of those frustrating zipper seals that won’t close or stay shut. They’re one of life’s obnoxious soul sucking little aggravations we can do without.  Fortunately there are no issues here because the zipper works every single time. WIN!

The zombie themed branding is very subtle with no cheesy neon green, “in your face” zombie graphics. True zombie fans will notice the name and image right away. The “normal” folks might pass right on by without noticing this is “zombie” coffee. Just the way it should be!

Click the images below to open a larger view:

AROMA:
We’re not coffee snobs around here but we are coffee aficionados and coffee Fans. Some might even go so far to call us coffee connoisseurs. Most importantly we have a mild chemical dependency when it comes to caffeine.  Our addiction to coffee means one thing:  we drink a lot of coffee! We’ve consumed enough of the cheap and bitter nasty stuff to know good when we taste or smell it. This is good stuff!

The second you tear open a bag of DEATH TO ZOMBIES, you can tell it is gourmet coffee. Just sitting in the bag it has that fresh roasted aroma that lets you know this is better than that plastic tub you drug home from the big box store. Start brewing and the aromatic goodness really gets cooking! The scent of this coffee brewing gets every coffee drinker in the vicinity shambling to the coffee pot.

The bottom line is this stuff smells amazing!

GRIND:

We won’t pretend to be coffee gurus here. We do know the coarseness of a grind is typically related to the brewing method that will be used. That being said, ours arrived as a nice all purpose medium grind perfectly suited for the old drip maker. That being said, you could get all fancy and throw this in a French press, siphon brewer etc. without issue. If you’re worried about the perfect grind level or maximum freshness you might as well go the extra mile and order beans and grind it yourself! If you don’t want the headache, rest assured DTZ arrives with a good general purpose medium grind that will please all but the most finicky coffee snobs.

FLAVOR:
There’s none of the cheap, half stale, highly acidic bitterness we’ve had to choke down so many times in the past here. We’re not sure we have enough experience to validate the “World’s smoothest coffee” claims but it’s worlds better than the cheap stuff.  DEATH TO ZOMBIES is honestly much smoother and less acidic tasting than the Columbian and Puerto-Rican coffee blends we’d been drinking prior to this review. It also has a slightly sweeter flavor and seems to be just a bit lighter and less strong in comparison as well.

There are some good starting points for figuring out how much coffee to use on the packaging but they’re just that: starting points. Brewing the ideal cup of coffee is highly personal and one of those “to taste” recipes you need to figure out for yourself. We ignored the measuring mumbo jumbo and went with our tried and true “this many scoops” method. We simply threw in the same number of “scoops” we used with our previous coffee. Afterwards we decided it was just a bit weaker than we’d like so we needed “a little more”. It’s a highly technical process to say the least. Now that we know how many “scoops” we need to fling into the coffee pot every morning (and afternoon. . . and sometimes evening) we’re very pleased!

What’s that you say? Our coffee slurping ways are too crude and barbaric? No worries. When you’re feeling fancy or looking for a more personalized coffee experience you’re good to go with DTZ. We tried this some in a French coffee press and it was as good as we had hoped. (Save the ooh la la jokes, we’ve heard them all.) Why would we bother with pressing coffee? It allows us to control temperature, brew time, yield and more. This is where good coffee like DEATH TO ZOMBIES really shines. Sure you get weird looks and comments from the mouthbreathers but that’s another story for another day.

PROS:

• Quality packaging
• Freshly roasted and/or ground just prior to shipping
• Premium gourmet Honduras Coffee
• Available as beans or ground
• Available in 12 oz. or 32 oz. sizes
• Free shipping to the USA
• 100% 90 day money back guarantee
• Organic
• Fair Trade
• 100% Arabica (No mystery blends)
• Smooth, tasty flavor
• Great Aroma
• Available as a single purchase or “subscription” style purchase

CONS:

• A bit pricey (Currently $19.99 for the 12 oz. bag and $29.99 for the 32 oz.) This pricing does include free 2 day shipping so in the end it’s actually quite fair and on par with what you’re probably paying now for gourmet coffee.
• The smell of this coffee brewing makes you very popular with coffee lovers. Not so great when you’re not in the mood to share.

CONCLUSION:

Our useless and meaningless rating: 4 out of 5

Good stuff! It smells and tastes amazing. Whether you want to be meticulous with a fancy brew or you just want to toss this into a drip maker or reusable K-cup, DEATH TO ZOMBIES coffee doesn’t disappoint. Ours was long gone within days of opening it. We’re not sure this is the cure for zombie brain but it certainly helps. The aroma also draws hordes of coffee mug wielding caffeine deprived zombies every time we brewed some up.

WHERE TO GET IT:
Go to the Coffee Cousins website or www.death2zombies.com for ordering information.

 
 
Enjoy DEATH TO ZOMBIES coffee out of an awesome zombie coffee mug:

The post Death To Zombies Coffee Review appeared first on ZombieGift.com Zombie Blog.

This is Colin M. Drysdale’s third installment in the For Those in Peril series. We’ve been lucky enough to review each book in the series and to this point we hadn’t been disappointed. When Mr. Drysdale and Pictish Beast Publications offered to send over a complimentary copy for review many months ago we happily agreed. So did the third book in this series live up to our expectations or does this one fall flat like so many other tertiary tales have in the past?

“The third is always the worst.” It may be a bit undeserved but the third offering in many popular series is often scorned. Whether you’re referring to a movie, video game or book, number three is often scoffed at and disregarded. We tried not to come into this review with any bias or preconceived notions. With that in mind, we have to admit this probably isn’t our favorite novel in the trio. That’s not to say we didn’t enjoy nearly every page, because we did. It’s sort of like declaring your least favorite pizza or your least favorite super-model.

The Island at the End of the World is penned with the lean, concise storytelling and clean editing we’ve grown to expect from Drysdale’s works. This book does a great job of tying together the stories from the first two novels. I know what you’re probably thinking and you’re wrong. You’ll find no lengthy chapters going over plot points you’ve read in past books. Yes. There is a refresher paragraph thrown in here and there to recap major points but only when necessary. There is no beating a dead horse here. Drysdale deftly weaves together the “For Those in Peril” series without using the need to rehashing old material as a crutch.  Many authors in the genre aren’t so adept at summarizing and it can often feel like you’re reading the same material twice.

Any concerns you might have about how well the stories work together should be laid to rest. The different characters and story arcs from the first two books seamlessly flow into this one. Nothing feels forced or out of place and it genuinely seems like Drysdale started out with a purpose way back in the beginning with “For Those in Peril on the Sea.”  The novels in this series do a great job of standing on their own. While starting out at the beginning might be the preferred method, you can easily pick up any of the three novels and jump into the series at any point without feeling lost.

Overall we really enjoyed this book. It does a great job of progressing characters and story development from the first two novels. (For those who aren’t familiar check out the links to our reviews of the first two books at the conclusion of our review.) For now, just know these books are essentially post-apocalyptic zombie survival at sea. Drysdale’s use of real world locations and the nautical theme persist here and it is a unique approach we truly appreciate.

The Island at the End of the World radiates a slower , calmer and more hopeful vibe compared to the first two books in this series. The main focus here is on rebuilding, learning to live as a survival community and retaining hope for the future of humanity. This slower pace allows the characters, and the reader, time to acknowledge emotional and social aspects of life the frantic survival pace didn’t allow up to this point. This does lead to some slow points in the storytelling but they are few and far between. There’s still plenty of infected killing, close calls and loss, albeit to a lesser degree. This one doesn’t feel like a big ball of tension and anticipation building to a major final conflict at the conclusion. If that is something you need as a reader you may be disappointed. Instead conflict and tension ebbs and flows throughout until the open ended conclusion where I was left a bit sad, satisfied and hopeful for the future.

We won’t be summarizing any major plot points this time so no worries about spoilers! What we will do is run down a list of what we like, and didn’t like, so much about this book.

PROS:

• Easy to Read:     Mr. Drysdale and his editing team always turn out a finely polished and easy to read finished product. Spelling errors, grammatical mistakes and the like are virtually non-existent. That’s not all that common in the zombie or post-apocalyptic fiction genre. We receive many books that could be run past an editor another two or three times.

• Seamless Storytelling:     This third installment does a great job of tying together the first two novels. He briefly touches on key points from the first two novels when necessary but he does it briefly without boring fans of the series.

• Can Be Read and Enjoyed On Its Own:     While we definitely recommend reading the first two books in this series, you can easily read this one on its own. Reading the first two isn’t necessary but it will definitely enhance your appreciation of characters and certain plot points. You could easily pick up this book and then go back and read the first two if you chose to work backwards.

• Appropriate Length:     Our review copy came in just under 300 pages. This falls right in our personal sweet spot. It isn’t too long and it feels just long enough. You could easily bang this out in an afternoon if you like to binge read. On the other hand if you can only squeeze in 10 pages at a time it won’t take you months to get through.

• The Ending:     This one leaves us with a soft conclusion. There’s no anxiety inducing cliff hanger that leaves you wanting to tear your hair out. There’s a bit of disappointment, uncertainty and loss at the end but it is balanced with acceptance, serenity and hope. The story doesn’t end up fully resolved but as we turned the last page we were left with an strange feeling of calm satisfaction. There is definitely more story waiting to be told but Drysdale could easily walk away from the series at this point without leaving fans disappointed. In our humble (and worthless) opinion Drysdale made a great decision with the conclusion of The Island at the End of The World.  If he continues the series that would be fantastic. If he doesn’t, he leaves the reader in a position where they can feel satisfied and where they can imagine what happens to the characters in the future.

CONS:

• The Cover:     Don’t judge a book by its cover. Mr. Drysdale’s covers are often simple and without gaudy flair. This is actually one of our favorite covers in the series but if you’re a fan of showy covers that the story never lives up to, you’ll be disappointed.

• A Bit Slow at Times:     This book is a bit slower and more deliberate than others in the series. It’s partly out of necessity.  This story is more about humans coming together and learning how to survive. There’s a lot of planning and rebuilding which not everyone will appreciate. There seemed to be less conflict and violence in this installment which makes sense. There’s still plenty of shooting, head bashing and tension but it all seems to be fewer and further between compared to the first two novels. That being said, the author seems to balance the story well. Just as you feel things may be starting to stall a bit he revs up the plot with some conflict on a supply run for fuel or some other run-in with the infected.

CONCLUSION AND RATING:

4 Out of 5 Brains

Get your copy here:

Experience the rest of the For Those in Peril series and other books by Colin M. Drysdale:

Read our review of For Those in Peril on the Sea. (Book #1)

Read our review of The Outbreak (Book #2)

 Disclaimer: The author or publisher provided us with a review copy of this book in exchange for our honest and unbiased review.

The post Zombie Book Review: The Island at the End of the World by Colin M. Drysdale appeared first on ZombieGift.com Zombie Blog.

You’ve got enough to worry about. There’s the current state of politics and the shaky, uncertainty of our economy. You also need to constantly navigate through issues with work, family, friends and more. As if that all isn’t enough there’s the constant threat of a pending zombie apocalypse. Let’s face it. You don’t have a lot of time and energy left to spend on worrying about the best way to safely store and display your axe. No, we’re not talking about bladed weapons here. We’re referring to your beloved banjo, bass or guitar. Fortunately, you don’t need to look much further thanks to these insanely detailed “Toxic Zombie” guitar grips. We’ve been lusting after these when we first saw them on social media and we couldn’t wait to get our hands on one. When the folks responsible for them at GuitarGrip offered to send over a complimentary grip for review we were more than happy to oblige.

WHAT IS IT?
These are a unique handmade zombie twist on the conventional wall-mounted guitar hanger. These hands shaped hangers mount to a wall or other vertical surface and grip and safely hang and support a guitar by the head and neck area. Each grip looks like a hand coming out of the wall but there’s so much more to them than that. GuitarGrip offers a variety of different designs from simple single colors (in both male and female variants), to wild designs sure to wow and inspire. Our favorite, of course, is their “Toxic Zombie” model shown here.

INCREDIBLE DETAIL:
Part of the “Ghastly Grips” line, the detail work in the Toxic Zombie grip definitely lives up to the name. They could have taken the easy way out and simply taken one of their existing hands and painted it with some green zombie details. Instead, the designers went all out to create an entirely new design full of gross and gory detail sure to please any zombie fan. The undead come to life thanks to incredible design work. You can almost smell the putrid rotting flesh. The cleverly crafted aged and dehydrated peeling zombie skin reveals the underlying bony anatomy and musculature in several areas. The cracked and crusty fingernails definitely appear like they have helped claw their way out of a grave and into a meal or two. These grips are truly a work of art and we haven’t even gotten to the stunning paint.

The painting on these is amazing. The zombie skin is just the right shade of an olive drab toned zombie green. There are no cartoon-like and annoying fluorescent zombie greens here. Shading and details are very well done and the professional quality airbrush work helps complete the look. Each grip is base coated and then airbrushed with details before being glazed and then top coated with a matte clear coat for durability. As you clearly see in our photos here, the final result is nothing short of remarkable. We’re very impressed with how closely the actual product we received resembles the product photos. With handmade goods it can be very common for the final product to feature a little less detail or to look quite a bit different from product listing photos. That definitely isn’t the case here because these arrive just as advertised!

FUNCTIONAL:
Of course these aren’t just pretty. They’re also functional. Currently available only in the left hand version shown here, this grip should safely hold pretty much any even heel or uneven heel headstocks. It’s not really suitable for a reversed uneven hell headstock.

There’s much more than simply hanging a guitar from a fake hand. The GuitarGrip crew has obviously taken their time to thoroughly think through things and no small detail is overlooked. Each grip comes with a soft felt padded area to prevent damage to walls. A padded rubber grip area inside the hand protects your instrument while offering increased grip. They even provide easy to follow installation instructions and necessary mounting hardware.

INSTALLATION:
Installation is honestly incredibly easy. The preferred method is mounting the grip to a stud. In our opinon, this provides the most stability and pretty much eliminates the possibility of your grip ripping out of the wall. The mounting screw included with your grip mounts directly to a stud and for this method you’ll need:
1. A stud finder (or other method of locating a stud within your walls)
2. A drill
3. A 3/16″ drill bit

To mount you simply screw the flat ended machine threaded portion of the mounting bolt into the hanger base and hand tighten it until it stops. Next, locate a stud and drill a 3/16 hole 1 inch deep through the wall and stud. Finally grasp the grip by the wrist and insert the pointed end of the mounting screw into the hole you just drilled. Tighten by turning in a clockwise direction until the grip is securely and snugly mounted flush with the wall. You’re done!

Check out the video below which shows just how easy installation can be:

 
If you prefer other mounting options, GuitarGrip has you covered. If you can’t access a stud for some reason you can mount your zombie guitar grip using a simple 1/4″-20 drywall anchor or one of their custom decorative mounting discs. There’s also a slatwall bracket option that’s perfect for use in a retail or showcase environment.

Some of the aforementioned parts are available at your local hardware store or could be crafted by a knowledgeable do-it-yourselfer, but we were happy to see GuitarGrip isn’t gouging the unknowing with the prices on these options. Thanks to their reasonable prices on alternative mounting options it almost isn’t worth bothering with sourcing your own solution. It won’t save you a significant amount money. There’s definitely a small premium to be paid for convenience but it is often money well spent when you save yourself valuable time.

DURABLE:
The great attention to detail doesn’t stop with appearance. These feel incredibly well made and built to last. Each grip is solid and heavy without feeling fragile. The paint work is honestly much tougher than we were expecting. Thanks to the durable glazing and topcoating the finish feels very durable and we doubt you’ll have any issues with chipped, peeling or flaking paint with normal handling.

VIEW PHOTOS:

Check out some additional photos of the Toxic Zombie Guitar Grip in the gallery below:

PROS:

• Functional work of art
• NiceRetail Box Packaging
• Works well for guitars etc. with even heel or uneven heel headstock designs
• Incredible painting and detail
• Durable design
• Solid stud mounting
• Mounting hardware included
• Padded felt mounting area
• Cushioned grip area protects your instrument
• Easy to install
• Handmade right here in the USA (Made in Detroit, MI)

CONS:
There really isn’t much to complain about here. That being said, we do our best to point out both positive and negative features of the products we review.

• Currently only available in a left handed version
• The price (currently $65.00 at the time of this review) may be a bit steep for some. Sure you can get a lame wall hanger for much less somewhere else but this isn’t about the most economical solution. A significant amount of time and effort goes into a handmade product like this and we feel the price is reasonable considering the amazing detail.

FINAL VERDICT:

5/5

There honestly isn’t much to dislike here.  The Toxic Zombie guitar grip is a functional, durable and beautifully executed work of art. If you’re looking for a SICK zombie guitar hanger or the perfect zombie themed gift for the guitar player in your life, these are the answer!

WHERE CAN I GET ONE?:

Head on over to GuitarGrip.com to order. While there  you can also search their Store Locator to look for a local retailer near you.

You can also buy via Amazon.com:

The post Toxic Zombie Guitar Grip Review – Ghastly Ghoulish Grips for Your Guitar appeared first on ZombieGift.com Zombie Blog.

The Zee Brothers: Zombie Exterminators: Curse of the Zombie Omelet (Volume 1) Book Review

We’re always happy to check out new additions to the zombie fiction genre. The problem is, some of them start to sound like the same old story over and over again. So much so that we’ve been turning down many zombie book review requests in the past couple years. It may sound crass. It may sound like we’re turning into zombie hipsters. The truth is we are tired of reading the same repackaged and retitled zombie fiction over and over again from different authors.  Fortunately author Grivante helps break the undead monotony with the first book in The Zee Brothers: Zombie Exterminators series.

Every so often we’re contacted with a synopsis of a zombie novel that sounds like something so different and so fun we can’t pass it up. Such was the case with The Zee Brothers: Zombie Exterminators: Curse of the Zombie Omelet (Volume 1). With a title like that who could resist? If the title doesn’t immediately get your attention let’s glance at some highlights.

• A quiet suburb built over an ancient Indian burial ground becomes the source for an undead zombie outbreak

• A temperamental 1950’s Chevy pickup that needs some transmission help.

• A magic 8-Ball shift knob that seems to predict the future. It can also please the ladies . . . but that’s a different review for a different day.

• A hot redhead female protagonist with a pink revolver

• A pair of zombie exterminating brothers, one of which appears a bit less capable than his sibling.

• A toothless tied up pet zombie/former client

• A puppy named Xanadu that displays magical powers when you fling him into the air and scream his name. Oh yeah (spoiler alert) he also poops diamonds.

The novel’s text is so concise we feel like we’d be giving away too much if we delved too deep within the plot. Glance at the plot summary on Amazon and you’ll have everything you need to recognize this for the fun and unique zombie book it is:

“This is the first story featuring the Zee Brother’s in which they meet the love of their lives, JJ and her magical puppy, Xanadu. They uncover the secrets of an ancient indian curse involving a zombie omelet, wait, amulet. They fail to rescue their first client of the day and end up keeping him as a pet instead.

All of this takes place in the small gated community of Winter Oaks, AZ, built atop the tribal burial ground of the Pakatini Tribe and right next to the county dump. Awakened when the obnoxious president of the home owners association disturbs an ancient artifact, the zombies return from their graves to reclaim their amulet.

Arriving in their extermination truck loaded with weapons and their strangely premonitory Magic 8-ball shifter, the brothers quickly get to work. Bodies and brains explode as they seek the answers to end the ancient zombie curse before it leads to a full on Zombie Apocalypse.

Before it is over, Jonah, Judas & JJ teach us about Zombie Bondage, Zombie Dental Hygiene & The Wonders of Orgasms and Chocolate, all while surviving being the target of an ever growing number of newly awakened undead.

Aided by JJ’s mysterious dog, the brother’s manage to get the amulet, but not before Jonah is marked for death by the Pakatini’s High Priest. It is going to take more than their really big gun, that they affectionately refer to as DeeDee, to get them out of this one.

Filled with nods to zombie pop culture, this book will keep you entertained and leave you smiling.”

Our Review:

Overall we loved the first installment of the Zee Brothers series. It was a blast to read and we genuinely hope the author delivers more in the future.  Although the book is on the short side, we can’t say that’s all bad. There are times when reading 800 pages of convoluted plot twists and sub plots gets more than a little annoying. It was nice to read this book over a few thirty minute sessions. Thanks to the author’s concise, linear storytelling we were able to pick this up after a few days without reading and immediately remember where we were in the story.

We loved the balance of humor, suspense and gore. There is a sparse spattering of sexuality but it is done without going too far like so many horror authors seem to do. You could easily toss this to a teenager and not be a horrible parent for letting them read it.

That being said, we can’t help but feel like there was room for a bit more turmoil in the plot. Although the zombie exterminating brothers, JJ and her puppy do encounter plenty of issues along the way, it almost seems like rectifying the situation was too easy for them. Then again this is just the first volume and the author left plenty of room for growth in the future. Another 50 to 100 pages would have been nice.

Do we recommend it? Yes! If you can pick up the color illustrated version for around $10 to $15 it’s worth it. Otherwise the non-illustrated or kindle versions are probably your best value.  Regardless of which format you prefer, we highly recommend checking this one out. If you enjoy a quick read this one is sure to please. If you’re someone who needs hundreds and hundreds of pages of character development and a slow, methodical built to a plot climax you might be left feeling cheated. This one doesn’t beat around the bush and gets straight to the point, which we actually found refreshing in a way.

PROS:

• A quick read of right around 100 pages. (Our color illustrated review copy contained 103 pages of story text).
• The action starts quickly and hooks you in from the start.
• The subtle pop zombie culture references included are a nice touch for real fans of the genre.
• Just enough of a twist on the zombie genre to make things interesting.
• The author’s linear writing style takes you through the story in a non-distracting style.
• There a few illustrations throughout the text that help bring the story to life for the reader.
• A good balance of gore, humor, and suspense with a dash of sexual tension sprinkled in.
• Large easy to read text
• Cover art, cover and paper stock are all good quality

CONS:

• A bit too short. While the shorter length is nice, I can’t help but feel there could have been more meat to the story. It feels like the characters should have had a bit more conflict along the way.
• What’s the deal with Toothless Larry? I felt like this tied up pet zombie was going to end up being a much more important part of the story than he ended up being.
• Pricing fluctuates and that is one of the reasons we avoid placing too much emphasis on it in a review. I do feel cost is worth mentioning for the version we reviewed. The paperback color illustrated edition of this book is currently priced at $24.99 on Amazon. Yikes. Even with free 2 day factored in that seems a bit pricey for a 100 page zombie novel that can be read in a single sitting of a couple hours. We’ve seen this priced at $15 to $20 previously and in our opinion that’s a bit more realistic. The good news is you don’t need to pony up for the beautiful color illustrated version if you don’t want to.  A non-illustrated version with a white cover Is available; at the time of this review it is priced under $10. Kindle and audio book versions are available for even less if you prefer those formats.

Final Verdict:

We give this one a 4 out of 5 and we can’t wait to read future additions to the series. You know the deal. The truth is our opinion really doesn’t mean squat. Go check it out for yourself and let us know what you think in the comment section below!

Where to Buy:

Grab your copy at Amazon.com and be sure to visit www.thezeebrothers.com for merchandise and more information.

The post The Zee Brothers: Zombie Exterminators Curse of the Zombie Omelet Book Review appeared first on ZombieGift.com Zombie Blog.

Many fans of The Walking Dead will remember our review of the Official AMC The Walking Dead Survival Kit about a year ago. First My Family, the company behind those full survival kits, is back again with a smaller Official AMC Walking Dead Zombie Preparedness Apocalypse Kit. When they offered to send out a sample of this new kit for review we were more than happy to oblige.

Let’s face it, zombies probably aren’t going to be walking among us any time soon. Planning for a fictional zombie emergency may seem silly, but it actually makes a lot of sense. Preparing for the zombie apocalypse is really just like planning for any other disaster. In most emergency or disaster situations you need the same basic survival and emergency supplies. Things like basic first aid, light, shelter from the elements and tools to build fire are vital in nearly any disaster or emergency whether it be of the undead or more plausible variety. Planning for the zombie apocalypse just happens to be a lot more fun and a great way to get family and friends onboard with the prepping cause.

The Official AMC The Walking Dead Zombie Preparedness Apocalypse Kit, or “ZPAK” for those who want a less wordy title, is a perfect affordable basic survival pack for emergency or everyday use.    The “ZPAK” features a handful of basic survival supplies tucked into an awesome custom Walking Dead branded Nalgene sport water bottle. Let’s take a look at what your purchase of the ZPAK includes.

CONTENTS OF THE ZPAK

Custom The Walking Dead Nalgene Sport Water Bottle:

Without a doubt, the highlight of the ZPAK is the beautiful custom screen printed Nalgene water bottle. This 32 ounce bottle is manufactured by Nalgene, the king of manufacturers when it comes to water bottles for the active outdoors lifestyle.  This bottle looks like it is just the standard 32 ounce Tritan Wide Mouth water bottle which is made in the USA.  These are the gray bottle with black cap, which looks great with the custom branding.

The best part of this bottle is the awesome custom branding. The bottle features a large AMC The Walking Dead Zombie Preparedness Apocalypse Kit and First My Family design in white on the front. Subtle dark red blood spatters placed throughout the bottle put a beautiful stunning final touch to the look of this bottle. The bottle itself truly is a beautiful work of art. We’re confident many Walking Dead collectors will purchase this kit simply to add this gorgeous bottle to their collection and we can’t say we blame them! Click any of the images in the gallery below to open a larger view.

Of course this water bottle isn’t just attractive. It’s durable, practical and functional. We were so pleased to see a Nalgene bottle used for this kit. Based on experience we can tell you these things are nearly indestructible. They’re durable, easy to clean and worlds above most other bottles on the market. AMC and First My Family could have cut corners here and went with a more affordable and more profitable water bottle. Fortunately they chose a quality product that will stand up to daily use. This bottle will be part of your survival and emergency preparedness kit for years to come.

The basic design of this bottle may not seem like much at first glance. Don’t let the simplicity fool you. Decades of manufacturing refinements and improvements make these bottles nearly perfect. They’re honestly ideal for emergency and everyday use. The smallest details seem insignificant at first, until you start using these bottles while camping or out in the field.  The large wide mouth opening is perfect for several reasons. It allows you to pour and drink easily from the bottle. For everyday use the large opening makes it easy to add ice cubes to your bottle. The large opening allows many water filters and purifying straws to be used without issue. It also makes mixing powdered drinks much easier as well. Finally, it allows stuffing items into the bottle much easier. Space is at a premium in any bug out bag or emergency disaster kit. There is no point not cramming this bottle full of valuable emergency preparation items until it is needed for water storage.

The cap of this Nalgene bottle features threads designed to seal well and made to withstand tightening without stripping. The top loop makes sure the cap never gets lost while simultaneously creating a convenient way to attach this bottle to a bag, backpack, belt or other area. First My Family has even added a convenient carabiner to make attaching and detaching this bottle even easier!

The water bottle is constructed of BPA-Free Eastman Tritan copolyester. This material has superior impact resistance. If you have doubts just look up some of the Nalgene torture test videos on YouTube and you’ll soon see these things are tough! There’s a reason they’re guaranteed for life. In addition to their resistance to breaking and shattering, these bottles can withstand temperatures from -40°F to 212°F. You can even pour boiling water into a Nalgene bottle without issue or damage to them.  Thanks to the construction material, this bottle is also resistant to staining and retaining taste and odors.

Supplies:

In addition to the water bottle, this kit features a handful of basic survival essentials.  Here’s a list of what our kid included:

• 10 Medical Grade Adhesive Bandage Strips

• One 12 hour chemical light stick: Unwrap, snap and shake for up to 12 hours of light

• One Emergency poncho. Keep yourself dry, use it for signaling for help and more!

• One Emergency Mylar Space Blanket: This reflective blanket helps you stay warm

• One 5 in 1 Emergency Whistle: This whistle helps you signal for help and packs some potentially lifesaving features. As the name implies, this isn’t just a whistle.  It has a weatherproof compartment for storing matches and other small items. A compass on the lid may help you navigate your way to safety and the signaling mirror on the reverse side of the lid just might help you signal for help from rescuers.  A flint rod on the whistle can be used to create a spark and may be just what you need to start a life sustaining fire.

• One custom carabiner:  Perfect for clipping the water bottle to your bag, backpack, belt or for similar uses. This product is not suitable for climbing use.

Click any of the images in the gallery below to open a better view:

Granted, there isn’t a ton of survival gear in this kit, but it’s not supposed to be a full kit. This is simply a small pack meant for coping with emergency situations in the short term. This is perfect for storing in your car or carrying with you for everyday use. It would make a great addition to a full survival kit.

We know what many of you are probably thinking, “I can make a similar or better kit for less money.” We had the same thought at first, but then we started doing some math and quickly realized it isn’t worth the trouble.

Let’s cover the obvious point first. If you do it yourself you won’t get the awesome Walking Dead bottle.  In our opinion, this is worth the bulk of the purchase price alone. We can easily see this bottle selling alone for $19.99.  Let’s say you don’t care about the Walking Dead logo, putting together this kit yourself isn’t as cheap as you may think.

A typical 32 ounce wide mouth Nalgene water bottle retails for $11 to as much as $20 alone. A similar 5 in 1 survival whistle typically runs $4 to $5. The survival blanket typically runs a few dollars and a rain poncho can often be picked up for $1 to $2.  What about the light stick? If you can find individual industrial quality 6 inch light sticks locally you’ll likely pay at least a dollar a two. A box of bandages will run you anywhere from a dollar to a few dollars depending on quality. We’re also assuming you can find all of these items together in the same store or two locally. When you factor in the cost of your time and fuel , or shipping costs, you can easily see the cost of this kit is very reasonable. In our opinion there’s no real reason to attempt putting this kit together on your own, especially if you’re a fan of The Walking Dead. In most cases you wouldn’t save enough to make missing out on the custom bottle worth it.

PROS:

• Beautiful The Walking Dead Bottle: The custom Walking Dead Water bottle is gorgeous and sure to be a hit with collectors and preppers alike.

• Lightweight: The water bottle and contents weigh just under 13 ounces making this super portable and a great addition to a full survival kit.

• The Nalgene brand water bottle is super tough, durable and designed to be practical.

• Affordable: Priced under $30 before shipping

• Perfect on the go kit for basic emergencies and everyday use.

• Plenty of room to add to and improve upon this kit.

CONS:

•  This kit doesn’t contain much in the way of survival supplies but we feel it is important to note this isn’t intended to be a full survival kit. While an emergency blanket, a poncho, some bandages, a whistle and a light stick might not sound like much on the surface they can all make the difference when it comes to short term survival in an emergency situation.

• We know what every self-respecting do it yourselfer is thinking.  With some work you could probably build a similar or better kit for the same amount or perhaps a little less money, but you won’t get the custom Walking Dead bottle.

• Our bottle had a slight blemish in the white graphic on the front. You can see a small area where the white logo logo is missing above the letter “A” in the word, “PREPAREDNESS”. Upon closer examination it looks like this may be a simple manufacturing defect. None of the photos of other bottles we’ve seen have this so it’s highly unlikely you’d have any issues with your purchase.

• The kit doesn’t contain anything that will work to help you easily create a spark with the flint rod on the whistle. This isn’t too much of an issue because most of us have something on us that would work. That being said, it is probably a good idea to make sure you have a small pocket knife, razor blade or something steel in the kit to make this chore much easier. We tried using the carabiner provided in the kit, thinking it would throw a spark. It didn’t work for us. A knife blade got sparks flying 6 inches or so.  Starting a fire with a flint or Ferro rod can be challenging enough on its own. You don’t need the lack of something to create easy sparks compounding your problems.

Where Can You Buy It?:

At the time of this post, the official AMC The Walking Dead Zombie Preparedness Apocalypse Survival Kit is priced at $29.95. It is  available directly via FirstMyFamily.com and can also be found on Amazon.com.

Final Thoughts:

The official Walking Dead ZPAK is a great idea and priced right. The beautiful custom Walking Dead Nalgene bottle is almost reason enough to make the purchase. This lightweight emergency survival pack contains enough resources and materials to help you survive a short term emergency situation without being heavy.  We really like the idea of adding to this and making it our own. Overall this is a beautifully done survival pack that is sure to help you survive many emergency situations. Whether you’re concerned about zombies, natural disasters, car trouble or all of the above, this kit just might save your rear one day. If not, at least you’ll have the coolest water bottle in town.

Rating:

4.5 out of 5

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?

We plan on adding a small pocket knife, small flashlight, some paracord, an energy bar, and some char cloth or some sort of tinder to make this kit even more useful. What would YOU Add to this kit to make it your own? Let us know by leaving a comment in the comments section below!

The post Official AMC Walking Dead Zombie Preparedness Apocalypse Kit Review: Our Thoughts on the ZPAK appeared first on ZombieGift.com Zombie Blog.

Zombie Book Review

The Hunt Chronicles Volume 1: Awakening by J.D. Demers

We read a lot of zombie books and J.D. Demer’s take on the zombie genre is right up there with our favorites.  While it isn’t perfect, it does provide a refreshing twist in a category of fiction that sometimes seems as stale and dead as the zeds themselves.

The Hunt Chronicles Volume 1 Awakening is presented in a unique journal style.  The presentation isn’t all that original and it has been done many times in zombie fiction, but Demer does it better than most.  Each chapter starts with a section title and a date.  The main events in the book are sandwiched between a short prologue and a concluding epilogue. We’ll get to more on that later.  For now it’s enough to say the prologue and epilogue hint at Christian being stuck in a grim situation over a year after the main events described in this novel. It may sound confusing but it really isn’t. Trust me when I say J.D.’s writing style suits this manner of presentation very well.  Everything flows along nicely and the dates and timelines are a guideline that assist you rather than being a distraction as is so common in other works of zombie fiction. You can easily read this book without needing to dwell on dates.  Time doesn’t jump forward and back like it may in other books.

This zombie novel tells the story of a hero that isn’t so much of a hero most of the time.  Our zombie slaying protagonist, Christian Hunt, is an ex Army man but he’s not the hardened soldier you might expect. Christian was a supply clerk that didn’t see much first hand battle.  He’s really a bit of newbie when it comes to survival and killing.  The awkward main character is one of the reasons I enjoyed this book.

Christian makes mistakes. He hesitates. He’s scared at times. Not every shot he takes is a head shot. He misses. Sometimes he makes the same mistakes again. He’s willing to learn and has the heart to continue on.  Overall he’s believable and that’s why I enjoy his character. Of course it’s difficult to survive on your own when you don’t have a very good survival skill set.  Christian could use some help and he gets it from some pretty cool characters.  No zombie book would be complete without a cold, calculating, zombie-killing bada** that has ice water flowing through his veins. This book gives you just that with a character nicknamed, “Fish.”

Fish is an ex military sniper that saw a ton of action in Afghanistan. He knows how to efficiently kill when the situation calls for it and he does it without hesitation or much remorse. Basically he’s the polar opposite of Christian Hunt and it creates a mild amount of tension and a great story in itself.

Along the way Christian Hunt also scores perhaps his most valuable asset of all, “Boomer”,  a German Sheppard with police dog genetics. After rescuing this canine it hangs around and Christian soon learns it has the ability to sense the dead long before he does. “Boomer” saves Christian’s neck many times.

Watching Christian progress from a naive and hesitant fool to a perfectly capable survivor in a short amount of time is what makes this such a great read.  When the book ends Christian is still far from perfect but you can definitely see the progression of his character and it is one of the highlights of the story.

I don’t want to reveal many plot spoilers since I feel this is a book worth your time. We’ll cover the basics here and let you read for yourself to fill in major plot action.  As I mentioned previously, the story begins with a short 4 or 5 page prologue that provides some basic background information on the main character. We learn Christian is holed up in a two story office building surrounded by about a thousand zombies.  It’s over a year after the outbreak started and over a year after the events that are described in this novel.  We have no idea how Christian got himself in this situation and at the end of the book you still won’t know.  It’s a bit frustrating but definitely leaves you very interested in reading future installments in this series.

The main events in the novel are basically a journal accounting of Christian’s experiences in the beginning of the zombie apocalypse. It describes both Christian’s literal and figurative awakening to the world that lays before him and probably to the same extent an awakening to his own self, his immunity and his ability to survive. Through a relatively short amount of time (the dates span from March 19th through April 22nd) we see how the zombie plague likely started, how Christian survived the initial events, how he came to believe he’s immune and how he worked with others to survive.  We get to see Christian progress from a scared and tentative loner with just enough survive instinct to keep himself alive to part of a duo. From there he becomes part of a larger group that unexpectedly needs to relocate their base due to an attack.  The main events and the concluding epilogue leave the reader with a mild double cliff hanger. It’s a bit frustrating but it’s well done and definitely leaves you eager for the next book in the series.

At the conclusion of the book we know where the group is heading but we’re left wondering whether they’ll make it there and if things will work out even if they do.  We’re also left wondering what’s troubling a normally unshakable Fish.  After an epic final battle with a special type of zombie known as a “Scab” something clearly has Fish distracted and off his game. It could be the harshness of the final battle with the undead, but it’s unlikely this hardened vet would let a little undead bashing shake him up.  I have a feeling I might know what it is, but I’ll have to wait for a future book to know whether I’m right.  As the book wraps up we come back to the realization that Christian is possibly writing his final thoughts on paper as he’s alone and surrounded by the undead. He’s cornered over a year later than the events that transpire in Volume 1: Awakening. What’s happened in the past year? Did Fish, Boomer and the others become Zombie food? How did Christian get himself in this situation and will he get out? We’ll have to bide our time until the story continues and I can’t wait to find out!

What We Loved

• A very well written book with little to no grammatical or typographical errors. (That’s not so common in the world of zombie fiction)
• The chronological journal style presentation of the main plot is done well and not distracting.
• The prologue and epilogue create even more drama and cliff hanger tension.
• Contains just the right amount of violence and gore without being overly gratuitous.
• The zombies have a unique twist without being so unique it will anger purists.
• Special Zombies called “Scabs” add a new level of terror and suspense without being too much.
• The main character is real and believable.
• The military jargon is clearly explained for non-military minded readers which isn’t always the case.
• We love the addition of the dog to the story. As a reader you find yourself keeping your fingers crossed that Boomer doesn’t become zombie chow.
• The author doesn’t need to resort to sexual content like so many author post apocalyptic authors feel the need to do.
• The book concludes with just enough of a resolution that the reader doesn’t feel cheated but it also leaves plenty unresolved for future installments.

Meh. What We Didn’t Love So Much:

The end is a bit frustrating. An author definitely wants to keep you on the edge of your seat as they prepare you for the next book in their series and I understand that. As a reader I can’t help but feel I’d like a few more loose ends tied up while I wait for the next book.

Final Verdict:

4.25/5.0

The Hunt Chronicles Volume 1 Awakening is one of our favorite zombie novels to date. While it isn’t perfect, we did put it down without thinking “I’ve read this before.” That’s something we can’t say often. Awakening has just enough of a unique twist to the zombie genre to make it seem unique without offending zombie purists. Overall it’s a great book we definitely recommend reading!

NOTES:

We received an early copy of this book and the cover art has been changed.  You can see the new cover art and purchase The Hunt Chronicles Volume 1: Awakening below.

The post Zombie Book Review – The Hunt Chronicles Volume 1: Awakening by J.D. Demers appeared first on ZombieGift.com Zombie Blog.