Book Review -- My Life as a White Trash Zombie

Title: My Life as a White Trash Zombie
Author: Diana Rowland
Genre: Urban fantasy
Pages: Paperback, 310
Published: 2011
Opening Lines: "'You should be dead,' the ER nurse stated as she adjusted something on my IV. She was more husky than fat, with too much eye makeup, and hair that had been dyed a nasty shade of reddish orange."

Angel Crawford is a loser.

"Living with her alcoholic deadbeat dad in the swamps of southern Louisiana, she's a high school dropout with a pill habit and a criminal record who's been fired from more crap jobs than she can count. Now on probation for a felony, it seems that Angel will never pull herself out of the downward spiral her life has taken.

"That is, until the day she wakes up in the ER after overdosing on painkillers. Angel remembers being in a horrible car crash, but she doesn't have a mark on her. To add to the weirdness, she receives an anonymous letter telling her there's a job waiting for her at the county morgue -- and that it's an offer she doesn't dare refuse.

"Before she knows it she's dealing with a huge crush on a certain hunky deputy and a brand new addiction: an overpowering craving for brains. Plus, her morgue is filling up with the victims of a serial killer who decapitates his prey -- just when she's hungriest!

Angel's going to have to grow up fast if she wants to keep this job and stay in one piece. Because if she doesn't, she's dead meat.

"Literally."

~ Jacket copy

Thoughts: The cover drew me to this book! I loved the artwork and the title. Who could refuse an awesome, hot zombie girl claiming to be a white trash zombie? Definitely not me *^_^*

This book did not disappoint! The book follows the beginning of Angel Crawford's undead life. After waking up in the ER, she receives a very weird letter, bottles on some chunky coffee drink, and instructions to show up for a job with the coroner. Considering that she is a pill popper, daughter of a drunk, and an all around type-a loser, Angel has a hard time deciding who would give her a job. After arriving at the job, she assumes it is something set up by her parole officer to scare her straight. However, that still doesn't explain the chunky drink, the unusual non-issue with gore, and this overwhelming desire to eat brains.

Angel is one of the best main characters I've run across in awhile. She doesn't apologize for who she is, and she sure as hell doesn't pull any punches. I found it extremely endearing and hilarious that she is denying her zombie nature will munching down brains in the body cooler. And, even after confirmation of her new undead status, she seems to take everything in stride.

I felt that Rowland took a lot of time developing this story. The characters and environment were very rich and full bodied. Even though she didn't spend tons of time there, I could imagine the sound of the cans crunching in Angel's driveway whenever she came home. I could also feel dirty when she walked into the house. The characters around Angel created a nice depth without taking anything away from the story or pulling attention away from her.

I loved Rowland's take on zombies! It was also awesome to see zombies not always being the bad, shambling, id controlled monster we are used to in movies. I've always loved zombies, so seeing redeeming characteristics was a nice change!

I am eagerly awaiting the second book, Even White Trash Zombies Get the Blues.

Rating: ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Currently: Bloodfever by Karen Marie Moning
Current Pages: 14949
Current Progress:

41/50 books