The Reading Bud

Book Blog by Heena Rathore-Pardeshi

Book Review: Those Who Remain (Book #1) by Priscila Santa Rosa

22888984

Author: Priscila Santa Rosa 
Release Date: August 2014
Series: Those Who Remain Trilogy
Genre: Apocalyptic | Horror > Zombies |
Edition: E-book (mobi)
Pages: 232
Publisher: Not Specified
Source: Author
Buy it here: Amazon

Followed by:

Rating: ★★★★★

Blurb:

Hide your children, lock your doors, and load your guns because zombies are real and they are coming. Danny Terrence knows this better than anyone. He spent months preparing for the inevitable moment the disease would reach his small town. What he didn’t prepare for is the fact that nobody really believes him.

Luckily for him, an old classmate and bully just happens to be the first one bitten. The bad news is that the family with the biggest arsenal of guns just packed up and left town, leaving them defenseless from an oncoming zombie horde. Being a leader isn’t turning out the way Danny imagined.

Yet four other survivors easily have it worse than him. Between a thirteen-year-old girl on a road trip from hell, a family of paranoid hunters having to deal with their feelings for the first time ever, a stubborn doctor butting heads with a cold-hearted sergeant and an amoral British professor carrying the fate of humanity in his hands, Danny has it easy. Unless, of course, they all end up in his town, messing with his already messed up life.

Follow these five people as their paths cross and their lives and hopes are challenged in this thrilling novel.

Review

I enjoyed this book from start to end. For me, this book is nothing short of a GREAT apocalyptic book!

The characterization is awesome and the alternating POVs kept me at the edge of my seat the entire time! I felt a strong connection with everyone, but my favorites are The Girl, Hunter’s Daughter, and The Last One Out.

The writing is excellent and I literally breezed through the entire book in a single day! I loved it and have already requested (and received) the remaining two parts of this trilogy [can’t wait to read them!] The suspense build-up, the mysterious undertones, the chills and the curiosity, everything that the characters felt, came out beautifully.

I never felt that I was reading a book, I felt like I was in there with each and every character experiencing everything they did, first-hand.

The pacing is excellent and the twists and turns and the interludes at the end of the book were simply a master stroke.

I loved the Zombies as well, and the disease’s spread felt really natural and practical.
I’m really, really excited to know what happens next as the author ended all the POV’s on a great note. It’s literally killing me to read other books before getting to the next parts – This book is so good!

Other Stuff

Opening Line: My only window to the outside world is a thin gap between the closet’s doors.

Highlights: Pacing and story.

Lowlights: None.

Memorable Quotes:

Turns out, deep down, I’m sentimental. Very deep down.

It took me hours to realise that crying wouldn’t change anything. Shoes. I need new shoes.

I let out a sigh, embarrassed for him. A sociopath, but not a smart one.

It’s a rule of every horror story: when someone is too happy, or things are going too well for a character, then the next scene his head is rolling down the floor with the psychotic murderer making a surprise return from the dead.

A crazy disease spreading, riots going on, people running away, the military taking control over everything and I can’t load my rifle. PTSD is a bitch.

Memorable Paragraphs:

I don’t think she went to the drugstore at all. Why else did she take the car? She didn’t leave me behind. She took him away. To save me.

Father puts a hand on my shoulder. We both know leaving her behind meant her death. I’m allowed a minute to grieve for a mother I never truly knew. Then we run.

Between doctors, nurses, staff and patients, Saint Jude Hospital housed almost ten thousand people. Three hundred soldiers were sent to keep them safe. Only five people were leaving alive.

Some kids ask Santa for a toy. I wished for the Zombie Apocalypse. He took his sweet time, but finally my present was here. With luck, unwrapping it wasn’t going to kill me or destroy the town.

Final Thoughts: Best Zombie book I’ve read so far this year!


You can also read this review at Goodreads and Amazon.

11 responses to “Book Review: Those Who Remain (Book #1) by Priscila Santa Rosa”

  1. By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff Avatar

    This looks sooo good Heena! Great review!🙋🏻

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Heena Rathore P. Avatar

      Thanks a lot, Kim! I’m not sure yet if you like Zombies or not, but if you do, you’ve GOT to read this one!!!! It is AMAZING!!! 😀

      Like

  2. Galit G. Balli Avatar

    Sounds great, can’t wait to read it 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Heena Rathore P. Avatar

      Yay, hun! Let me know if you do, would love to know how you liked it 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Galit G. Balli Avatar

        I will let you know, as soon as I read it 😀

        Liked by 1 person

  3. Paige Avatar

    I am so in love with apocalyptic-style books lately! I’ll be checking this one out because based on your review it sounds great 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Heena Rathore P. Avatar

      Same here! And thanks, I hope you’ll like it, or rather love it, as much as I did!!
      Thanks for reading this review, Paige 🙂

      Like

  4. Christy Birmingham Avatar

    Ohhhh totally want to read about the zombies!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Heena Rathore P. Avatar

      This’ll make for a great read, Christy 🙂

      Like

  5. Book Review: Deadly Hearts by Priscila Santa Rosa – The Reading Bud Avatar

    […] to apocalyptic/post-apocalyptic novels (and talking about the genre, you’ve got to check out Those Who Remain trilogy by her!) The writing is so fluid that it makes the story shine and makes the reader want to […]

    Like

  6. The Reading Bud’s Top Ten Books Of 2016 – The Reading Bud Avatar

    […] Those Who Remain (Book #1) by Priscila Santa Rosa […]

    Like

I love reading your comments, so please go ahead…

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

I’m Heena

Welcome to The Reading Bud, my cosy corner of the internet dedicated to all things books and authors. Here, I invite you to join me on a journey of discovering under-represented books, independent and small press authors, and all things book with a touch of love and loud purrs. Let’s get Reading!

May 2016
M T W T F S S
 1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
3031  

Reading is like breathing to me.

Recent Posts

  • Book Review: The Keyholder: A Novel of Byzantine Constantinopleby S. Kallistos

    Book Details: Author: S. Kallistos Release Date: 21 March 2026Series: Genre: Historical FictionFormat: E-book Pages: 122 pagesPublisher: –Blurb:Constantinople, 843 AD. The Iconoclasm is over. The icons have been restored, the Empress Theodora rules as regent, and the empire breathes…

  • Book Spotlight: Constants by E.B. Miller

    Welcome to the TRB Lounge. Today, we are featuring E.B. Miller for their latest release, Constants. Book: ConstantsAuthor: E.B. MillerPublication Date: 5 July 2026Publisher: Evil Eye PublishingPages: 286Genre: Literary Science Fiction, Speculative Fiction, Real-Time Multiverse MysteryAvailable in:…

  • Book Review: The Vegetarian by Han Kang

    Book Details: Author: Han KangRelease Date: 5th November 2015Series: Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Horror, PhilosophicalFormat: E-book Pages: 192 pagesPublisher: Portobello BooksBlurb:WINNER OF THE 2024 NOBEL PRIZE IN LITERATURE WINNER OF THE INTERNATIONAL BOOKER PRIZE ‘A strange, painfully tender exploration…

  • Book Spotlight: The Awakening — Book 1 of The Sleeping King Trilogy by John Hempstock

    Welcome to the TRB Lounge. Today, we are featuring John Hempstock for their latest release, The Awakening — Book 1 of The Sleeping King Trilogy. Book: The Awakening — Book 1 of The Sleeping King Trilogy by John HempstockAuthor: John HempstockPublication Date: 2026Publisher: John HempstockPages:…

  • Book Review: The Orange Man and Me by Lord Hugo Dastardly

    Book Details: Author: Lord Hugo Dastardly Release Date: 17 April 2026Series: Genre: Political satireFormat: E-book Pages: 225 pagesPublisher: Blurb:She gave him everything.He gave her January 6.What would you do if you caught the eye of the most powerful man…