Celebrity party girl Amanda Feral is back from the dead, and hungrier than ever for a good time. With her zombie gal pal Wendy and vampy gay sidekick Gil, this stone cold fox is dressed to kill, on the prowl, and ready to take a big juicy bite out of Seattle’s supernatural nightlife. But what’s a zombie chick to do when her ‘Mommie Dearest’ gets sick? If you’re Amanda Feral, you can either ignore the wicked old witch – or bury the past by visiting Ethel before she kicks it. Amanda’s not thrilled about the idea of crossing three states just to be criticized. But Wendy, who’s always looking for fresh meat, is up for the adventure. And Gil, who just launched his ‘luxury’ resurrection business, needs to disappear because a pissed-off client is out for his blood. First, they pack their stiletto pumps and plasma into a skeevy rattrap on wheels that used to be a Winnebago. Then, with a little help from a Korean-ghost hood ornament, a masochist named Fishhook, and a slew of ‘moderately accurate’ psychics, they hit the highway – their way. Of course, they’ll have to navigate past some neo-Nazi skinheads, a horny dust devil, a hunky werewolf cop (who could pass for an underwear model) and an unsightly horde of supermarket shoppers. But for this glamorous gang of ghouls this trip is about to take a dangerous detour that could give road kill a brand new meaning.

Road Trip of the Living Dead by Mark Henry (Amanda Feral #2)
Urban Fantasy
March 1, 2009
Paperback, 288 Pages
Kensington
Reviewed by Mandi

In Mark Henry’s second Amanda Feral book, we find the gang needing to get out of town. First, Gil, Amanda’s vampire pal has decided to start his own business, Luxury Resurrections. What better way to make some money than to turn people into vampires? He offers a premium service, unfortunately his first client, Richard Markham gets urinated on by a ghost as he rises from his grave, which wasn’t really included in the million dollar price tag. Markham is pissed and as Gil, Amanda and Wendy flee the scene, he promises revenge.

Concurrently, Amanda’s mom is on hospice dying from cancer. This actually makes Amanda very happy. She hates her mom – like, really, really hates her. She had an awful childhood because of her and could care less her mom is ready to kick the bucket. Gil thinks maybe Amanda needs closure, and with an enraged Markam on their tails, they decide to go on a road trip! A road trip is not necessarily the flashy, high profile life that Amanda prefers, but as she says, “country folk have cute country flavors.”

During the road trip, we meet several new people. First, we are introduced to Fishhooks, a man that is suppose to be Amanda’s dinner, but was smart enough to swallow several fish hooks, that of course no zombie will go near now. He mumbles, is usually high, and is really well hung.

Mr. Kim’s, or Kimmy is back, (kimmy is the ghost from the first book), and we are introduced to his sister who desperately wants to find a way to see him again. We meet a family that is just too perfect to be real – and have twins that may like to make-out with each other. There are also werewolves and zombie attacks, and the cute cop from the first book is back and Amanda can not resist.

Road Trip of the Living Dead is better than the first book in my opinion. The pace is fast throughout and Mark Henry again delivers a book that will have you laughing nonstop. I can’t express how funny his books are. It’s the combination of humor and shock value that make these books so entertaining. For as funny and snarky as the first book is, I really think it is a challenge to write a second book on that level, and he makes it happen.

We get a lot of glimpses into Amanda’s life in this one as she contemplates why she hates her mother so much and how she turned into the person (or zombie) she is today. We even see a bit (just a little) of humanity in her as she copes with a Wendy who is down in the dumps and Kimmy’s sister who wishes to see her dead brother in his ghost form. Don’t get me wrong, Amanda is still a bitch – but she cares for Gil and Wendy and they make a great trio. Wendy is battling an addiction to Twix bars, which she tries to hide from the gang, but with chocolate smears on her face and the runs coming out the other end, it is a problem that all her friends know about. I actually wish we had more with Gil this time, he seemed to be left behind.

We do get more with Scott, the police officer from the first book that comes to Amanda’s aide. He is a fun character and gives a something to Amanda that makes her undead heart a little more smutty, if that is possible. I could sit here and type out a dozen or more quotes that had me laughing out loud, but it is better if you read it for yourself. You need to get into Amanda’s snarky, sharp-witted mind and go along for the ride.

Road Trip of the Living Dead is fun, fast-paced and different than any other urban fantasy series out there. I am really impressed with this series and can’t say enough how entertaining it is.

Rating: 4.5/5

Recent Reviews:
Kindle Vixen – 4.5/5
Alexia’s Books and Such – 3/5
Sci Fi Guy – Highly recommends

Mark Henry’s Website.