One

Book two of the Sanctuary Chronicles

Fiction - Supernatural
188 Pages
Reviewed on 03/01/2022
Buy on Amazon

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    Book Review

Reviewed by Nicholus Schroeder for Readers' Favorite

One: Book 2 of the Sanctuary Chronicles is a dystopian book by Greg Rode. The world is in ruins and overrun with flesh-eating zombies, and the protagonist’s group--consisting of three women--has decided to head to upstate New York, hoping that the horde of the city hasn’t ventured into the sparsely populated countryside. That’s reason one and reason two is that zombies don’t fare so well in extreme cold. Therefore, the group decides to make the long drive to their safe haven. For the most part, they fared pretty well, considering the odds. That all changed, though, when the group was separated from Eve, and it sunk in that their new family could fall apart at any moment. Awaiting them in the countryside village, however, were a few surprises that could threaten to tear down their new family and they might just wish that they’d never made the trip. What shocking discoveries will they come across on their journey? And what lies in wait for them at their “safe” haven?

One was an absolute delight to read. This book has one of the best plots I’ve read in the zombie genre or books that have an apocalyptic setting overrun with zombies. The plot was fun and had me hooked within a few minutes and the last few scenes were beyond incredible. The points of interest that the group visited along their long trek were also meaningful and I liked getting to know more about the world and the unique zombies. I was impressed by how formidable the undead are in this book as they stage ambushes and had quite a few more tricks up their sleeves that kept the action fresh and unpredictable.

Character development was a huge positive for me as the characters were life-like and relatable. The protagonist, in particular, was my favorite; he’s a really funny guy and it’s hilarious how he refers to his knife as “the KNIFE” even when he’s armed with a shotgun, as he still has more faith in “the KNIFE” than a firearm. Action scenes were also a blast and I’m more than satisfied with them. Another positive aspect worth mentioning is Greg Rode’s stellar descriptive style of writing. He conveyed each scene with remarkable detail and his descriptions never went over my head; picturing it all unfold was relatively easy and fun, especially the action scenes. I’d recommend this book to readers that love the supernatural genre, zombies, and apocalyptic settings. This book has a plot worth reading and a cast of characters that is sure to tug at your heartstrings. This book is well worth your time.

JC Minnaar

Greg Rode’s One, book two of the Sanctuary Chronicles, picks up straight where book one, Shotgun Finish, left off. Having survived the battle with the zombie queen and her horde, our protagonist, Deedee, Amelie and Eve decide to head North to Eve’s family that lives in Lake Ariel with their ultimate destination being the family home of our protagonist. The journey to Pennsylvania turns out to be just as treacherous as the zombie apocalypse itself; foggy, mountainous roads, being strung-out from constant high-alert status to zombies and scavenging supplies are some of the dangers the group must face. Things become even more complicated when the group encounters other survivors. Are these people, who are only looking to survive themselves, friend or foe? Even if the group reaches the family home, what will they do next?

One by Greg Rode is a well-written story that had me falling in love with the characters and left me heartbroken whenever tragedy struck. Our protagonist, especially, brings the story to life with witty inner conversations, sarcastic remarks, and introspection on his past. Our protagonist is an especially logical person that puts what survival means and the hard decisions that accompany the goal into perspective for me and the relationships with Deedee, Amelie and Eve are exceptionally well-written. I always felt excited whenever a new alpha zombie was introduced and the effect they would have in a fight. Greg Rode wonderfully describes the environments surrounding the characters in great detail for my imagination to capture. One by Greg Rode is a standout zombie story that I highly recommend to fans of the zombie apocalypse genre.

Pikasho Deka

One is the second installment of The Sanctuary Chronicles by Greg Rode. Following the events of Shotgun Finish, after finishing off the zombie queen and taking out her horde, the still-unnamed protagonist and his friends, DeeDee, Eve, and the fifteen-year-old teen Amelie, hit the road once again and leave North Carolina for the northern pastures. Taking a wander through the small town of Lake Ariel in Pennsylvania, they arrive at Eve's childhood home. Miraculously, Eve finds her father alive, only to discover his terminal illness. The protagonist has no choice but to let her stay, and the group reluctantly leaves for New York without Eve. Seeing the city overrun with zombies, the group seeks shelter near the outskirts. However, they soon discover that the increasingly intelligent zombies aren't the only threat as rogue groups traverse the countryside.

A stellar sequel to Shotgun Finish, One continues to provide ample entertainment for fans of post-apocalyptic zombie survival stories. The first thing I noticed about Greg Rode's penultimate novel in The Sanctuary Chronicles is that the narrative takes a much more somber tone when compared to its predecessor. There is an increased focus on relationship dynamics, and the human conflicts between the characters give layers of depth to the narrative. The stakes feel higher than ever. The protagonist struggles to protect the people he cares for most, and it creates an internal turmoil in him that makes him fascinating to read. Despite being a sequel, One also functions as a standalone. Recommended to readers who enjoy survival stories.