REVIEW - RED EYE THE ARMAGEDDON SERIES SEASON ONE BY CLAIRE C RILEY & ELI CONSTANT

I decided I would have to do this review slightly differently as it is split into the individual episodes. As the cover is the same for each episode, I decided to do my comments on that first before going onto the different episode reviews. 

The cover is certainly eye catching with it’s bright orange colouring. The orange is there to show the fires that seem to be breaking out all over the airprot and surrounding areas. There is a plane flying in the sky representing the one in episode one, and a city or airport in the background with a female character walking towards it. As far as I can tell the cover doesn’t represent a scene described in any of the episodes so far. I guess the female could be a representation of Rose or Sam. Perhaps it’s a hint that one of them may be on their own at some point in the future, whether that is for a short period of time or signifying her leaving the group permanently.

I definitely love the cover and it certainly did its job perfectly, attracting me to it quite easily. The title is great too as red eyes are a sign of having the zombie virus and to those characters trapped in all those flames and at battle with the zombies it must feel like Armageddon has arrived!

The genres I have seen listed for this book are Sci-Fi, Post-Apocalyptic, Horror, Zombies and Romance. Well the post-apocalyptic element is certainly the zombie virus, which creates the zombies. The horror is all the flesh-eating zombies and the fact they can keep going with their intestines or internal organs literally hanging out. Some of the scenes are rather icky and well described! Especially the scavenged weapons being wielded by the characters to kill these almost unstoppable zombies obsessed with their next meal. There are also the little bits of romance here and there, that definitely do not interfere or distract from the survival or zombie battles going on. I love the genre mix of this book, I found the whole season to be a great read.

Title: Red Eye

Series: The Armageddon Series

Authors: Claire C Riley & Eli Constant

Genre: Horror, Zombies

Release Date: 24th October 2019

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* This is the worst flight ever! *
Rose is excited for her new adventure, but as her guilt grows, so does the tension on the plane. Sam thinks the worst thing about her week was her doomed wedding, she was wrong.

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REVIEW

Episode one begins with the two twenty something main female characters on what should be a, fairly normal uneventful aeroplane journey. As the plane gets nearer to landing. They are told by the Tower that though they can go ahead and land they must not let anyone off the plane until told they can. Despite the pilot and his co-pilot repeatedly asking why, the radio goes silent, they manage to decipher that there is something going wrong in and around the airport. Little do they know that “something” is also happening within the confines of the plane they are in too.

Rose is from the UK and from what we learn about her in the book seems to have had a fairly sheltered, reserved upbringing. Her parents have been somewhat over protective after the loss of Rose’s brother. Rose has felt stifled by this protection so much so she has decided to have a year off   fleeing what was to be her steady job at her parent’s firm. Rose wants to find out who she is without all the expectations and pressure on so has literally run away to plan what will direction her life will take next. Maybe she will return to work at her parent’s company, or do something totally different. Rose feels guilty as she couldn’t face explaining all this to her parents so she just left them a note.

Sam on the other hand thought she had her future all planned out. She should be happily returning from her honeymoon all loved up with her new husband Travis. Sadly, that isn’t the case, just as if she could suddenly see something more clearly, she realised that her relationship with Travis was not right anymore. So, Sam is returning from her honeymoon, turned holiday get away from everyone holiday alone and become more and more irritated by a guy nearby watching one of those gory zombie films!

The book progresses and we see Rose and Sam end up gravitating to each other and making the decision to get off the plane together because of being trapped with zombies on the plane is a sure, fire way to end up being eaten or being turned into a flesh-eating monster. Though outside the plane doesn’t look so safe either. They decide to take their chances and stick together, fight any zombies that got close enough to them and try and find a place where there were no zombies. It whilst in the terminal that the two young women come across muscular, tough looking guy who introduces himself as Nolan. They become of three against what feels like a world filled with flesh-eating, scratching, biting zombies. When the small group decide to raid the airport shops for some more suitable clothes, they needed as much skin to be covered as possible to avoid zombie scratches and have clothes that they could move as fast as possible in.

Just as you think that this first episode is going to end with our warrior trio being totally unharmed, one of them is scratched by a zombie. . . which leaves the other two worried they may have a soon to become zombie in their midst. This book really caught my attention from the very beginning and held it right to the end.

I can honestly say I really like all the three main characters in this book. I think the way that the two young women have gelled as friends almost instantly was great and believable, as they are of a similar age, both going through an already stressful situation in their lives and then land quite literally in the middle of a zombie crisis with only each other for support. I honestly can’t really choose one of the women over the other as a favourite. I’d say Rose comes across quite sheltered, reserved and displays what I am sure the Americans refer to as our “Britishness” or we in the UK would label our “stiff upper lip” attitude. Where as Sam seems more outgoing, more cynical and maybe a tad more mature. I was a little wary of Nolan when he first arrived in the book and perhaps irritated with the subliminal thought, I had that the young women had a better chance of survival now. I liked Nolan’s initial chauvinistic and how he is put in his place, quite surprisingly by Rose. I enjoyed how this first episode concentrated on these three main characters, apart from the brief interactions with those on the plane.

To sum up episode one, at first you think the same as the characters that an airport is a fairly good place to be stuck inside, if they can make an area secure enough to keep the zombies out. I mean they have clothes stores, and plenty of drinks and food to keep them going for a while. They just needed to barricade themselves a secluded area. . . don’t they? Well, it’s not as straight forward as that now, because we are left with the great cliff hanger of whether one of the character’s I had already grown fond of would, become a zombie! I was so relieved I already had the next episode to read straight away.

I would have at one time, almost turned my nose up at the zombie genre but I am discovering some really great books in this genre. This episode certainly left me wanting to read more!

Title: Red Eye

Series: The Armageddon Series

Authors: Claire C Riley & Eli Constant

Genre: Horror, Zombies

Release Date: 7th November 2019

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** Most fabulous drink ever! **

While the ragtag group scrounge for supplies, Jamie becomes even more protective of his daughter. There’s a new face amongst the group… but can he be trusted?

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This is the second episode and it picks up with Rose, Sam and Nolan still trying to avoid the flesh-eating zombies. It seems like Nolan is not too keen on being stuck fighting with “two prissy girls” but though Rose is feeling somewhat attracted to Nolan she soon hits back at him calling him chauvinistic. It isn’t too long before the girls end up proving their worth. When it comes down to one of them or a zombie, that zombie is going down! Whilst trying to find a place to “hole up” for a while the trio come across a group surrounded by zombies and quickly come up with a plan to rescue the humans, and get the zombies away from what could become the centre of the survivor’s operations. They are still unaware of the extent of the zombie horror that is going on around them. Their first instinct is to hide somewhere with food that can be secured and wait for help to arrive. I mean help would be on its way wouldn’t it?

The new survivors to the group include someone wo will prove very important when it comes to navigating around the airport, Karla a security guard. Karla leads the now larger gang to a room with security camera’s so they can see how many and where the zombies and danger is.

The other characters are introduced in this episode by Leon, male who becomes somewhat of a complex character as time goes on. There’s father Jamie and his young daughter Alexa, and there’s a poor guy who can only speak Japanese who seems to be called Akhira. Akhira proves to be a great asset in the fight against the zombies. Finally, there is Trent whom the group found trying to save a young injured girl from bleeding out.

You’d think that having extra people would make the group safer, but not necessarily so. Jamie finds it hard to let his daughter out of his sight and the situation doesn’t improve when those she is with are chased and almost caught by zombies when they end up splitting up when they were supposed to stick together. There are little hints at possible romance with Leon becoming attached to one of the young women. As for a leader it seems like whether he wants it or not, everyone is looking at Nolan to do the job. This episode also ends with a cliff hanger, after seeing a male in the lock up area of the airport the group need to decide whether to risk running into zombies whilst setting him free, or just leave the man where he is. Whilst Nolan thinks it would be useful to have another strong looking male available to fight, Karla is of the opinion if this male has been placed in lock up, he must have done something horrible to be put there. Karla think they will endanger their group by letting him free. What will the group decide?

Of course, I adored the now youngest member of the group Alexa, even though she seems to have one hell of an attitude problem to begin with. Though I reckon most of that is for show and an attempt to appear much more confident than she is actually feeling. Naturally her father Jamie is protective over his child and isn’t afraid to put his views across about group safety. Or shout and be angry when things go awry and a scavenging group containing his daughter unnecessarily split up putting his daughter in danger. I should also admit I didn’t take to Leon, though I truly can’t explain why not, just a hunch, I will have to see where his character goes. Another character I aren’t particularly fond of is Karla, the security guard, she comes across quite snappy and gives me the impression she perhaps thinks she should have more say in what they do because of her position at the airport.

I was immediately re-immersed into this world with the great characters and on the edge of my seat on more than one occasion. There are more characters to learn about, be suspicious of and keep track of too. Episode Two definitely left me wanting to read more . . .soon!

Title: Red Eye

Series: The Armageddon Series

Authors: Claire C Riley & Eli Constant

Genre: Horror, Zombies

Release Date: 21st November 2019

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**Ain’t no day like today for fading away **
The stakes are high as the group realize they might need to make a mad dash for freedom. And one of their own is harboring dark secrets which threaten to split the group.

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Episode three begins with Rose realising that there is no quick fix for what is happening around her, this outbreak or whatever it is, isn’t coming to an end. Rose also accepts the fact it looks like it could be a possibly long wait for help to arrive. When Nolan manages to get a seemingly broken TV working, the group watch a live broadcast from the rooftop of a building. The presenter Karen, is adamant they need to show, and she needs to tell people what is going on, despite the cameraman saying she doesn’t have to continue the report. The camera pans around showing zombies shuffling along attacking any live person they can get their hands on. There are also fires burning all around the area that is being filmed. It is clear to see that Karen is distressed by what is going on around and what seems to be happening to her as the broadcast goes on and then the camera is dropped and transmission ends. One female character is devastated that she didn’t share her suspicions about one of the newer male characters which leads to another character being hurt by them.

In this episode, new characters are introduced and are featured for various lengths of time. I liked the tough, determined reporter Karen who thinks it is her duty to show and tell as many people what is going on during this zombie crisis as possible before she herself collapses. I realised whilst reading this episode how little we know about Nolan, and I guess I have judged him by how he speaks to Rose and Sam and the others. Then when you think he didn’t have to stick around with the women or take on the unenviable role as unofficial leader he can’t be a bad guy can he?

We do get a bad apple in the barrel in episode three and Nolan is part of the group along with Leon, Jamie and newer character Barret that takes this untrustworthy, deviant person away from the “women folk” to deal with. It’s quite clear Nolan doesn’t relish the job he is taking on, doing this, but he knows it needs to be done. I guess what I am saying is though I don’t know Nolan’s history I know him by his actions through this and previous episodes and what I have discovered all seems to be good so far.

It may seem like I am describing lots of people and situations but honestly there is so much going on in the book that I could go on and on for days about these different episodes. So, rest assured I am by no means telling you everything that is going on. There are so many little sub plots going on at the same time as the main one. There are so much more to learn about all the different characters, both good and bad things. Also, the group come across certain dilemma’s that in normal life would never occur. Such as when someone does something really bad, heinous in fact, is it right for them to dole out their own rough justice? Throw them out of the relative safety of the group knowing it will be more difficult for that person to survive alone? There’s also the continuing dilemma that the original trio share a secret that one of them may at some point turn into the one thing they are trying to avoid. I have a few days to wait until the next episode is released. . . I honestly feel like I have a book hangover!! Good job I have a totally different genre (non-fiction) book to read.

Title: Red Eye

Series: The Armageddon Series

Authors: Claire C Riley & Eli Constant

Genre: Horror, Zombies

Release Date: 5th December 2019

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**The code word is coconuts!**
Things come to a head between two members of the group and a line is firmly draw when someone gets the wrong idea. The group realises that the world as they know it might not ever be right again.

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Episode four picks up right where the previous episode left off. So, the decision has been made about the mysterious, possibly dangerous man in lock up. Whether rightly or wrongly, only time will tell. Whilst most of the surviving gang still look to Nolan for leadership, both Barrett and increasingly so, Leon seem to have an opposing view on everyone of the decisions he has to make. This obviously causes tension in the group, creating mistrust and more danger for the group. It seems it isn’t difficult enough to have no choice but to fight zombies, now they start to snipe at each other and argue over the slightest thing too.

Having decided to make the move away from the airport as it doesn’t seem like help will be around anytime soon and the zombies are still somehow finding their way into the terminal. The choice they are forced to make is the only one they have really, unless they stayed out and were slowly picked off by the zombies. Karla has led them to vehicle keys and they soon find themselves in the parking garage of the airport hire car & van department. When Jamie and Alexa end up cut off from the larger part of the group Jamie urges the others onwards to find a getaway vehicle big enough for them all to hopefully escape in.

The group finally fight their way around and find a vehicle large enough and open it as quietly as possible and strangely some of them hesitate about getting into it. Nolan who really is the guy that tells it like it is and probably the most level headed, practical one of the men in the gang. Characters finally clamber into the van, leaving only one male indicating he isn’t going with them, before they can attempt to coerce him into the van he runs off and disappears. As a capable, strong fighter within the group, they will feel his loss the next time they get into a battle with the zombies.

Characters that stand out to me in this episode are Sam and her strange kind of relationship she seems to be developing with Barrett. I can’t help thinking she will end up getting hurt by him or his actions, but only time will tell. Another character within the book is definitely annoyed by their blossoming relationship and becomes quite argumentative within the group because of it. Sam also seems to have some sort of epiphany and discover a fighting machine side to herself.

Another developing relationship is between Nolan and Rose despite a possible age gap. Sure, they have been sort of thrown together because of the zombie pandemic, or whatever it is that is wrecking the world. Nolan, Rose and Sam also the original characters, so have been together slightly longer and the three of them share the precarious secret of one of them facing the prospect they may turn into a zombie at any moment. I think this tends to keep the three of them closer and more co-dependant on each other.

We lose a few characters within this episode, which is a shame as I personally was particularly attached to one of them. There is also a return of a character that had been sort of written off as gone and probably dead.  

The group are faced with another moral dilemma of should they stop and help someone they know to be a bad person, or should they continue driving and leave that person behind for fate to decide. The group make their way to one of the survivor’s relative’s home to check in with them, only to find their home empty. Though this does give the gang a brief reprise from their constant struggle with the zombies and a chance to eat and rest a little. Again, this episode ends on a cliff-hanger as the gang see a helicopter in the sky, and what this could mean. The optimists, believe it is the army looking for survivors which means if they follow its flight path it should lead them to some sort of base and perhaps the relative safety of being with professional army fighters. However, the pessimists, insist it could be anyone in the helicopter, someone could have stolen it! They also reason as they have recently learnt that noise attracts the zombies and really sets them into a frenzy surely the zombies will also be attracted by the noise of the helicopter. Once again, a tough decision needs to be made. There is plenty of discussion, then all eyes seem to track over to Nolan who finally states what he is going to do and says it is up to the remaining individuals who wants to go with him, or if they want to do something else.

You would think that would be the cliff-hanger which it is near the latter part of episode four but the doozy of a cliff hanger is those in the van, that decided to go with Nolan being directed to a testing station to make sure none of them already have the zombie virus….which could mean potential trouble for one person in the van……and that’s where this episode and season ends! So, yep I am whining about how long I have to wait for the next season/episode. On a totally serious note I am (im)patiently waiting for more!!

Title: Red Eye

Series: The Armageddon Series

Authors: Claire C Riley & Eli Constant

Genre: Horror, Zombies

Release Date: 4th December 2019

**Only available in paperback at the moment**

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When a red-eye flight from London to Los Angeles brings two strangers together, they have no idea that it’s the end of the bloody world!

Rose, a British runaway, is ready for the adventure of a lifetime. Her hopes are high, her funds are low, and nothing is going to rain on her parade. Except maybe the apocalypse!

Sam is an American ballerina on her way home from a hellish vacation. She’s tired of culture, tired of traveling, and seriously tired of men. She can’t wait to get home. That is until everyone turns into flesh-eating zombies!

Neither woman expects their exhausting overnight flight to devolve into bloody carnage of terror and mayhem.But when you’re over 30,000 feet in the air and there’s nowhere to run and nowhere to hide…what else can you do but team up with as many survivors as possible and try to stay alive?

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SUM UP OF SEASON ONE

You may think this book is all blood, guts and battling zombies which yes it is does have some of that to an extent but there are so many other things going on, sub plots to be revealed over time, friendships put to the test, guys to drool over for the young women, and normal everyday family relationship issues too. Each character adds their own individual histories of live before, though not all are revealed straight away, in fact some are still yet to be fully revealed. Then there is, their potential futures together or apart, if they survive long enough for a future that is.

I loved the humour within the book too the joking between Rose and Sam who have become firm friends and seem to act like they have known each other for years. Then the newer character of Barrett who teases Rose about her “Britishness” or her “British” words along with her confusion at the other characters when he or the others refer to American sayings. There is also the whole chips, fries and crisps thing being just one instance.

I don’t know what more I can say, other than this really is addictive reading. As soon as you finish one episode you are compelled to start reading the next one, even if the intention is to just read the first chapter, which then leads on and on and before you know it you have finished that episode too. I found these books packed with action, and they felt like very fast paced reads to me. All the episodes have some sort of cliff hanger towards the end of them to keep you wondering what will happen next. The content is sometimes quite thought provoking and do prompt you to put yourself in the characters position bot just in the position of the possibility of battling zombies like they have to but for some of the moral decisions they have to make. The group does let everyone who wishes have their say, and then put it to a vote. Even then if any of them disagree with the final decision they are free at any point to break off into their own group or go it alone. Nolan isn’t afraid or slow to remind the characters of this whenever there is a disagreement. At one point, in one of the episodes I actually thought that Sam was going to break up the original trio with one of the other males in the group, but she decides to stay and the male agrees to stay with the group for a while longer. Despite having a don’t care, don’t need anyone attitude he sees the sense of being part of the group. After all there’s safety in numbers isn’t there?

To finally sum up I loved each and everyone of the episodes in season one of Red Eye The Armageddon Season One and am eagerly, (im)patiently awaiting the start of season two, which it seems will also be released in the format of episodes.

After reading the complete season one, I was sat thinking about it and what it reminded me of as I had read it. The whole airport scenario remined me a little bit of Emmy Laybourne’s YA series Monument 14 where the young teenage characters find themselves hiding out in a supermarket. I have also read numerous post-apocalyptic genre books where large malls or schools are re-purposed to live in or hide out in. I did like the setting of the airport, the whole simultaneous outbreak of zombies both on the plane and in and around the airport terminal and surrounding area. We don’t know yet if this is a world wide pandemic as Rose hasn’t managed to contact her parents back in the UK and is riddled with guilt at her running off and leaving a letter is going to be the last communication, she has with them.

I think there is huuuge potential for this series! As to what comes next, it could be, our possibly infected character could be found out as in the process of turning into a zombie and be killed or isolated, or they could be immune and be imprisoned for tests, the whole gang could manage to get through the testing process and pass it, going on to live in an army base camp, they may become involved in running the camp having to do supply runs etc, there could be a zombie outbreak within those already inside the camp, or they could decide to leave and go it alone. There really are sooo many different ways the plot could go.