The Dead Saga Series by Claire C. Riley

It's better to die by the gun than die by the dead. Nina’s life was irrevocably changed when humanity’s dead began to rise. Now, she lives behind the walls. The barricaded cities, erected by the government to protect the remnants of civilization, have become a brutal dictatorship- causing the inhabitants within to starve, steal and claw for survival. Life behind the walls has become as terrifying as roaming the zombie-ridden landscape beyond... moreIt's better to die by the gun than die by the dead. Nina’s life was irrevocably changed when humanity’s dead began to rise. Now, she lives behind the walls. The barricaded cities, erected by the government to protect the remnants of civilization, have become a brutal dictatorship- causing the inhabitants within to starve, steal and claw for survival. Life behind the walls has become as terrifying as roaming the zombie-ridden landscape beyond. Citizens trade what they can to gain food, water, and shelter. Nina has only one currency—her body and she is tired of submitting herself to the greedy hands of the self-proclaimed leaders. An opportunity to escape presents itself in the fate of a young girl named Emily-Rose. For the price of a stale piece of bread, she is set for banishment from the city, and most likely a horrific death at the hands of the deaders. Nina tells herself that it is sympathy and not self-preservation that makes her follow the young girl out of the walled metropolis, and into the overgrown world beyond. Unused to fighting the deaders, Nina tries to scrounge for her survival and against her better judgment, begins to care for Emily-Rose. However, when you have a bread-stealing liability providing your only back up, survival seems even tougher. Nina is forced to fight for their lives, and with every zombie slain, she becomes fiercer, faster – a grim reaper with her not-so-sharp butcher’s knife. Along the path to a safe-haven that might not exist, Nina and Emily-Rose meet Mikey who introduces them to a new life they could not imagine, a life above the ground. However, this new world brings new dangers, and darker shadows than she knew. Nina finds out that the deaders aren’t the only thing to fear beyond the wall. And that fear will not be ignored, or Forgotten. less

Fortune favors…the DEAD! Some secrets are too horrific to ever be forgiven, and some people should never be trusted. Tortured, starved, and on the run, Nina thinks she’s faced the worst that mankind has to offer, but she’s wrong. She may have survived this long, but she hasn’t come out of it unscathed, and there’s worse to come. Nina’s trusty Doc Martens are showing signs of the zombie apocalypse, and she isn’t faring much better... moreFortune favors…the DEAD! Some secrets are too horrific to ever be forgiven, and some people should never be trusted. Tortured, starved, and on the run, Nina thinks she’s faced the worst that mankind has to offer, but she’s wrong. She may have survived this long, but she hasn’t come out of it unscathed, and there’s worse to come. Nina’s trusty Doc Martens are showing signs of the zombie apocalypse, and she isn’t faring much better. With her snarky attitude guaranteed to get her in trouble, Nina needs to forgive the past, to live once more in the present, and learn that sometimes she needs to place her trust in other people. Because when people are faced with the end of times, they’ll do anything to survive. less

A SERIES 50K NOVELLA TO BE READ ALONGSIDE THE BESTSELLING ODIUM SERIES When hell claws its way up from the dark depths of the earth, and the dead begin to walk, for most it can only mean one thing—death. But for some, the zombie apocalypse is only the beginning of a dark yet brave new life for them. For some, the apocalypse offers freedom from their tragic lives. For others it’s a chance to show that looks can be deceiving. And for others, it’s an opportunity ripe for the taking... moreA SERIES 50K NOVELLA TO BE READ ALONGSIDE THE BESTSELLING ODIUM SERIES When hell claws its way up from the dark depths of the earth, and the dead begin to walk, for most it can only mean one thing—death. But for some, the zombie apocalypse is only the beginning of a dark yet brave new life for them. For some, the apocalypse offers freedom from their tragic lives. For others it’s a chance to show that looks can be deceiving. And for others, it’s an opportunity ripe for the taking. The Bimbo, The Book Nerd, The Hero, & The Friends, everyone has their place. What really decides your fate in this new existence, nature, or nurture? Who people become when the world goes to hell is the true decider on someone’s humanity, and will ultimately decide your fate. Forever changed, these people have to learn to adapt to this dangerous and dark new world before they become one of the living dead themselves. Odium Origins 2.5 is a 50’000 word novella to accompany the full length novel Odium. The Dead Saga. Series reading order: Odium 0.5 is a prequel to the series and can be read either before or after Odium I Odium I Odium 1.5 Odium II Odium 2.5 Odium III Odium 3.5 coming soon Other books by Claire C. Riley Odium The Dead Saga Series - zompoc Odium Origins Series - zompoc Limerence (The Obsession Series) dark-paranormal urban romance Out of the Dark Series, - dystopian post-apocalyptic thriller Twisted Magic - urban fantasy paranormal romance Thicker than Blood series co-authored with USA Today bestselling author Madeline Sheehan - post-apocalyptic romance Shut Up & Kiss me - co-authored with USA Today bestselling author Madeline Sheehan - contemporary romance The Path Between the Stars - co-authored with speculative fiction author Eli Constant - dystopian post-apocalyptic romance Plus many anthology contributions less

In this life, nothing is simple...not even DEATH In the third instalment of the Odium series, having distanced herself from Mikey, Nina is on a mission. She's seeking a woman who could be the answer to all their problems...or just another nightmare made reality. Travelling alongside Nova, the two women are faced with countless threats and inexplicable circumstances...just another day in the land of the dead... moreIn this life, nothing is simple...not even DEATH In the third instalment of the Odium series, having distanced herself from Mikey, Nina is on a mission. She's seeking a woman who could be the answer to all their problems...or just another nightmare made reality. Travelling alongside Nova, the two women are faced with countless threats and inexplicable circumstances...just another day in the land of the dead. But Nina is changing, feeling the strain of this life, and beginning to rethink the choices she's made and the woman she's become. New allies will be forged on this road of self-discovery, bonds will be broken, and old enemies will resurface. Nina will be forced to make a decision that could have devastating consequences. However life is nothing without someone to love, or a family to love you in return. And in this new world, there is only one way to prove that love is still possible. Sacrifice. less

The Dead Aren’t the only thing to fear… A kid, an old lady, and a heartbroken man…what could possibly go wrong? Mikey is holding true to his promise to Nina, and is doing everything he can to keep the group alive. But when something attacks the threesome in the middle of the night, things begin to take a turn for the worst. Luckily a new group—the N.E.O.s are on hand to ease Mikey’s burden and help fight alongside him... moreThe Dead Aren’t the only thing to fear… A kid, an old lady, and a heartbroken man…what could possibly go wrong? Mikey is holding true to his promise to Nina, and is doing everything he can to keep the group alive. But when something attacks the threesome in the middle of the night, things begin to take a turn for the worst. Luckily a new group—the N.E.O.s are on hand to ease Mikey’s burden and help fight alongside him. But first he must prove his worth to the leader Aiken and the people that follow him. Within this new group, Mikey begins to find a form of peace that he didn’t think was possible after losing Nina, and he discovers his place within this new world. A place where killing isn’t for fun, and is only ever committed as a last resort. His heart is still aching, but at the end of the world there’s no time to stop and mourn, and as he searches out a Circus Freak Show and the horrors begin to stack up around him, Nina slips far from his mind. It’s probably best, because there are many more terrors in store for him. Because within the folds of a small town, inside an old candy store, he meets a woman named Clare, her two dogs and something that he never saw coming. less

*Book five in the hugely successful zompoc series* ODIUM V The Dead Saga On route to find their friends, Nina and Michael find so much more. After almost being killed by the Hell’s Highwaymen—a fifty strong motorcycle gang, Nina and Michael are forced to take refuge at their headquarters until Michael recovers. Finding a new purpose in life isn't easy, but Nina is realizing that she's stronger than she believes and needed more than she knows... more*Book five in the hugely successful zompoc series* ODIUM V The Dead Saga On route to find their friends, Nina and Michael find so much more. After almost being killed by the Hell’s Highwaymen—a fifty strong motorcycle gang, Nina and Michael are forced to take refuge at their headquarters until Michael recovers. Finding a new purpose in life isn't easy, but Nina is realizing that she's stronger than she believes and needed more than she knows. At least, that’s what Shooter—the brutish, blue-eyed president of the biker gang, keeps telling her. * Meanwhile, Mikey is trapped in the candy store. Phil is gone, so is O’Donnell, and who knows what’s happened to Ricky. All Mikey knows is that he’s in for a whole world of pain unless he can think of a way to escape before Tim and Clare turn him into their lunch. * With both of their lives hanging in the balance and heading in completely different directions, Nina and Mikey drift further apart. And it’s not just distance that separates them. Because when your fates keep pulling you away from one another, maybe it’s time to just call it a day and move on. less

People will do anything to survive! In the sixth book of the Dead Saga series, Nina is fighting more than just her demons; she’s waging war upon evil, because the greatest enemy now isn’t the deaders—it’s humans. Determined to eradicate the Savages from earth, Nina must settle an age-old argument and bring together mortal enemies. Because it’s more than just their own survival at risk now…it’s everyone’s... morePeople will do anything to survive! In the sixth book of the Dead Saga series, Nina is fighting more than just her demons; she’s waging war upon evil, because the greatest enemy now isn’t the deaders—it’s humans. Determined to eradicate the Savages from earth, Nina must settle an age-old argument and bring together mortal enemies. Because it’s more than just their own survival at risk now…it’s everyone’s. Running blindly toward danger is what Nina does best—only this time her eyes are wide open. She knows the risks, but she also knows that time is running out for Mikey; the Savages are hungry, and they’ll only play with their food for so long. Nina must eventually make the choice between love and survival, because in a world gone mad, you can’t have both, and no matter how much you want to stay, sometimes it’s easier to say goodbye. less