Reviews, Interviews, and Guest Posts for THE BOOK OF DAVID

If you have a blog or a site and you'd like to interview me or have me over for a guest post, I'd be thrilled. Just email me and ask.

If you've written a review of the book, let me know and I'll link to it here.

Reviews

"The horror and creep factor feels like a valve that Robert Kent has his finger on. He’s slowly pushing that lever and ratcheting the apprehension chapter by chapter. At times my heart is racing but he weighs this evenly with character growth, or freak outs rather, that move the plot right along!"
Creating Serenity - Chapter One
Creating Serenity - Chapter Two
Creating Serenity - Chapter Three
Creating Serenity - Chapter Four
Creating Serenity - Chapter Five

"The writing is rich and evocative, and it drew me in so deeply that when I turned the final page an audible “what no” escaped me because god***mit I wanted more. "
Bookish Creature


"It draws you in. Rich and detailed, setting up the characters and long-term story nicely. Kent does a fantastic job of making the Walters feel like real people even when the situations become so unreal. I can’t recommend this series enough. It’s a fascinating take on corporate America, religion, security and alien conspiracies. All told through the life of David Walters and his family."
Games, Brrraaains and a Head-banging Life-Chapter One
Games, Brrraaains and a Head-banging Life-Chapter Two
Games, Brrraaains and a Head-banging Life-Chapter Three
Games, Brrraaains and a Head-banging Life-Chapter Four
Games, Brrraaains and a Head-banging Life-Chapter Five

"Absolutely love this story. It has a little but of everything; a haunted house, ghosts, aliens, demons, religious zealots, murder, you name it. The book has humor, horror and an introspective look at ourselves and mankind. I think this has Netflix series written all over it and would love to see it."
Amazon Reviews


"Kent's style keeps the action moving, whether it's flashback, dialogue, or precise description."
Goodreads

Interviews

GINGER NUTS OF HORROR

The term horror, especially when applied to fiction always carries such heavy connotations.  What’s your feeling on the term “horror” and what do you think we can do to break past these assumptions?

I like horror novels, obviously, and when I see that a book is listed in the horror section, I'll at least read its description, if not a sample. I like that so many of my novels are classified as "horror" because it means they're in good company and I would be interested in them if I didn't already know how they ended. As for assumptions, there are some types of readers who prefer to steer clear of anything that might upset them, which is unfortunate, as it's good for you to be upset occasionally.

It's also true that bad horror is more noticeable than bad fiction in other genres because horror is so very do or die. A horror story is either scary or it isn't. A mystery can be obvious, implausibly solved, but still enjoyable to readers if the detective's kitten gets up to adorable antics. A non-scary horror story can't necessarily win over horror hounds with a cute romantic subplot.

Being a horror fan often means having to wade through some not great stories to find gold, but that's part of the fun. It makes finding something really scary all the more special. Non fans aren't always willing to put up with such a hit or miss genre. Me, I'll never claim Bait 3D is a great movie, but I own a copy and love to rewatch it with friends because sharks in a grocery store is my idea of a good time.

 Full interview containing some coarse language at Ginger Nuts of Horror on 10/24/17


GAMES, BRRRAAAINS AND A HEAD-BANGING LIFE

Were you worried that the introduction of aliens and Sexy Jesus might turn people off what is at first a 'haunted house' story? I'll admit to wondering what the hell was going on the first time the painting spoke!

I wasn't worried. In fact, I was certain some people would be turned off and I tried to target them as much as I could. I made sure to drop a few F-bombs in the opening passages so that anyone who might know me for my writing for children would know this wasn't that (assuming they skipped the warning in the description and on the first page). The language gets much fouler before the end, so I wanted those readers who would be bothered to tap out early.

There's A LOT of really offensive stuff in this story I wouldn't discuss at the diner table in front of grandma, but I might discuss some of it with a select audience late at the bar. That's one of the reasons I wanted to publish The Book of David as a serial novel. The first chapter is always free to read as an ebook and it's short. If a reader gets to the end of it (or the middle) and they're turned off, they're not out any money or that much time. Plenty of other books out there for those readers and I hope they find a story more to their liking. The second chapter is also short, but it's much more offensive than the first chapter and goes farther down the rabbit hole.

Chapter four and five are absolutely nuts. I don't want anybody reading them who hasn't already made it though the increasing offensiveness of the first three chapters. If you're still reading by chapter five, you're obviously entertained and having at least some fun because you had four perfectly good opportunities to quit reading. As much as possible, I want those readers to self select.

 Full interview at Games, Brrraaains and a Head-banging Life on 2/10/18

Reviews, Interviews, and Guest Posts for BANNEKER BONES AND THE GIANT ROBOT BEES

If you have a blog or a site and you'd like to interview me or have me over for a guest post, I'd be thrilled. Just ask.

If you've written a review of the book, let me know and I'll link to it here.

Reviews

"It's a good one for readers who like smart kids using really cool technology to save the day!  Banneker is a borderline sociopath and an utter snot, but the utterness of his snot-ness is so great as to be amusing.   Ellicott, on the other hand, is a nice kid, easy to relate too.  And the technology (jet packs and holographic games, as well as the giant robot bees) will delight the young technophile."
Charlotte's Library

Five Out Of Five Bookworms! "This is a really cool book. Mr. Kent has written a unique story where the government’s fear is that robots will be taking over everyone’s jobs. And Banneker’s family are the ones making the robots. I like the fact that Banneker Bones isn’t the main character, and that he’s a jerk. It provided a lot of humor in the story. Ellicott is a great kid that you really feel for."

This Kid Reviews Books

"Mr. Kent has created a work that reads a bit like Sherlock Holmes meets Sci Fi pulp  meets Richie Rich in this near future middle grade science fiction adventure... a highly entertaining and interesting story that  dives into its subject matter with passion and enthusiasm."
View From The Tesseract

"This wonderful story made me laugh, cry, and all other emotions in between! It's a terrific read for all ages to enjoy! I loved it!"

Amazon Reviews

"If my nine-year-old son could review this, and believe me, he wants to, he'd give it ten stars. Five just isn't enough. He was instantly drawn into the story. He laughed throughout."

Goodreads Reviews

Interviews

A discussion about writing middle grade versus young adult and adult with Jessica Lawson at Falling Leaflets

Guest Posts

Rambling About Voltaire and Indie Publishing While Parenting at Literary Rambles

Book of the Week: GIDEON'S SPEAR by Darby Karchut

First Paragraph(s): Screaming bored out of his mind, thirteen-year-old Finn MacCullen blew a long sigh as he wandered around the clearing in the woods. The late-afternoon rays of the summer sun lit the trees surrounding him, tinting the trunks of the Ponderosa pines with the same shade of bronze as that of the large knife, almost the length of his forearm, he held in one hand. With a snap of his wrist, he flipped it into the air and caught it by the handle.

Holding the weapon level with his eyes, he tilted it to and fro, trying to view his reflection. For just a moment, he caught a flash of blue eyes in a boyish face dusted with freckles, and a mop of hair the same flaming color as the blade. Adjusting the angle downward, he grinned as he was further rewarded with a glimpse of a twisted rope of gold, as thick as the Knight Mac Roth's thumb, that encircled his throat just above the collar of his T-shirt. "You are, Finnegan MacCullen," he murmured to himself, adjusting the torc so that the twin knobs on each end of the neckpiece were dead center under his Adam's apple, "one kickbutt warrior."

Gravel crunched behind him.

He whirled around. "Oh, crap." His heart rammed against the roof of his mouth at the sight of his worst nightmare.

Hello there, Esteemed Reader! Are you ready for St. Patrick's Day? In the past, I've spent the day at the bar (ahh, writer friends), but this year I'll likely be home reading a book with a baby on my chest drinking not so much as a green beer (I might do green tea). But you'll note from the new Irish background that I'm in the spirit, helped greatly by our old friend Darby Karchut's newest Gideon's Spear, the sequel to Finn Finnegan. 

You may note that the word count for All Right Now has slowed a bit, but I assure you this is because I've decided to prepare another horror story for you to be released in the next two months rather than waiting until October. For more details, I was interviewed yesterday at Jessica Lawson's extraordinary blog, Falling Leaflets, where I discuss character development in depth (if you're into that kinda thing, and if you're here, you might be).

Bad Ninja! My apologies, Esteemed Reader. How rude of me to discuss myself in a post about someone else's book. This space should be dedicated to Darby Karchut and an overview of her work, not a cheap ad for yours truly. I apologize. Won't happen again. 

Let's look at Gideon's Spear, available at fine retailers everywhere. Here is my favorite passage from Gideon's Spear written by Darby Karchut:

“Finn Finnegan is a Fine Folio of Fantastic Fiction!” — Middle Grade Ninja

Isn't that a--oh for crying out loud, I've done it again! I did everything I could to discuss this week's book and I ended up talking about me. That's because Gideon's Spear is the first book I'm aware of to feature a blurb from me, though any author who's book I've reviewed is welcome to blurb me anywhere they like. You may remember in my review of Finn Finegan I joked that the good people of Spencer Hill Press were welcome to use my blurb. I also offered this gem: 

Finn Finnegan is a good time read and you're going to enjoy yourself. This St. Patrick's Day, don't just get pass-out drunk. Read Finn Finnegan while-st you drink, then pass out

Well, the blurb Spencer Hill Press chose is good too and I'm thrilled with it. Gideon's Spear sits in a place of honor on my bookshelf as I bought an actual paper copy as a keepsake (though I actually read most of it on Kindle). And Darby Karchut was kind enough to blurb my book (all ways lead back to the ninja). I consider her a friend. So I think we can dispense with the review and spend the remainder of this post coming up with potential blurbs for the upcoming three-quel, The Hound at the Gate.

How about this: "Gideon's Spear through my heart and Darby Karchut's to blame. She gives writing middle grade Irish fantasy a good name." Or the trite: "Gideon's Spear is Good Stuff." Or the misleading: "I was so shocked when Finn died at the end!" Or the bizarre: "In the aftermath of a nuclear holocaust, having watched everyone you ever knew or loved burn to a cinder, as you sit waiting for the radiation sickness to put you out and at last take your pain away, those hours will be made less agonizing by reading Darby Karchut's Gideon's Spear."

All right, honest and for true, let's talk about this book. Honest and for true, I liked Gideon's Spear even better than Finn Finnegan, though newcomers to the series would be better off starting with that book. The origin and introduction of our characters out of the way, Karchut is able to spend book two deepening the characters and their relationships, thickening the plot, and raising the stakes. Also, there's even more action this time around, which makes the pages fly by in no time. 

Karchut expertly reminds return readers and catches up new readers by giving us a casual conversation in chapter one between our heroes that works nicely as a "last time on Finn Finnegan" narration:

“But how can I learn anything if all I do is follow you around?” 
Gideon’s face darkened. “Arguing with me is as dangerous as hunting the Amandán.” 
“But I’ve fought them before.” Finn’s voice cracked in frustration. “I know—” 
“You know less than you think. A few skirmishes with the goblins do not make you ready to hunt alone.” 
“Why won’t you let me at least try?” 
“Because you’re not ready!” Finn scowled. “It’s because of the whole Spear thing, isn’t it?” 
“Oh, aye, that’s it,” Gideon said, heavy on the sarcasm. “Discovering that my apprentice of less than two months is none other than the legendary Spear of the Tuatha De Danaan has made me decide to treat you differently from now on.” 
“It has?” Finn’s heart sank. I’m sick of always being different. I just want to be a Knight. Like Gideon and Mac Roth. 
“No, you dolt.” Gideon reached out and cuffed him lightly on the side of the head.

What I like about that passage is not just the brevity of the exposition, but the way Karchut shows us the nature of Gideon and Finn's relationship (as well as explaining the title). Last time around, I compared Gideon to Hagrid from that other wonderful series of children's books you may have heard of. But that's not accurate. Gideon is a much more central figure than Hagrid and a large amount of this book is devoted to his and Finn's mentor/apprentice/surrogate father/son relationship and I think it's fair to say that relationship is the core of this series. Gideon even writes his own journal entries as does Finn, and Hagrid never got nearly this amount of screen time. 

But lest we forget, our heroes are in the middle of an ongoing war, naturally. Karchut catches us up on that score early on by having the Amandán conveniently attack with more exposition than weapons. Note Gideon taking center stage with no Finn in sight:

“Too bad yer whelp turned tail and ran,” spoke another one. “I likes me Fey young and fresh.” 
“I just likes mine dead,” a deep voice growled. “The day will come when ye high and mighty—” it stopped to spit out the name “—Tuatha De Danaan will be nothing but a pile of leftovers. And Eire will be ours once more.” 
“Not that old grievance again,” Gideon said, tedium in his tone. “You think the death of all Tuatha De Danaan will return the Green Isle to the likes of you?” He raised his chin. “Ireland will never be yours again. The Goddess Danu gave it to us to hold.” 
“We hads it first,” the first goblin hissed. “We be the true heirs of Eire. Us the Bog-born, not the feeble offspring of some upstart goddess.” 
Gideon curled his lip. “Yet here you are. In Colorado. Not Ireland.” 
“We could says the same thing about ye Tuatha De Danaan—” 
“Bah,” the second Amandán interrupted. “Too much talking, not enough killing. Let’s get him, mates.” The pack closed ranks.

As with Finn Finnegan, the language gets a little strong for younger readers, but is perfect for upper middle grade readers who will chuckle at "assengai" just as surely his new African neighbors and Finn do. Comparisons to Harry Potter like the one I made are inevitable, but truth be told this book reminded me more of the Lord of the Rings and a little of Duck Tales.

There are goblin battles galore, but Gideon and Finn can't just fight them all day. They've got to come up against a heavy hitter sooner or later. Enter Iona. She's a witch, though she prefers the term "enchantress," and she and Gideon have an interesting history that goes back centuries, as such feuds do when dealing with fantasy characters. Gideon has reason to believe Iona was indirectly responsible for the death of his son, which is a great touch. Iona wants to get her claws on Gideon's new son, which is what editors mean when they tell us to "raise the stakes." Gideon and Iona are gonna rumble and this time it's personal, which is as it should be, or no one's going to care enough to read book three.

Gideon's Spear surpasses the original and it's a great read to be enjoyed by younger readers and adults, especially teachers like Darby Karchut, who will surely get a kick out of allusions such as these:

“Finnegan, wake,” he said softly, smiling to himself at the old joke. He nudged the bed with a knee, giving it a shake.

If you like action, adventure, and fun, and if you don't, you probably don't like books, but if you do like those things, Gideon's Spear is for you. This one comes highly recommended and with just one more book to go, now is the perfect time to join the series.

As always, I'll leave you with some of my favorite passages from Gideon's Spear:

He looked down at Finn’s bandaged hands. His eyebrows asked the question. 

“And I’m assuming the O’Neills will be footing the bill for the festivities?” Mac Roth nodded in anticipation. “Ye know the O’Neills. They’re a proud family and enjoy sharing their wealth with the rest of us.” “You mean flaunting their wealth,” Gideon replied, then shrugged. “Well, I wouldn’t want to show disrespect by not partaking in their generosity.” “Forever thinking of others, Lir.” “Aye, that I do. Excessive kindness has always been a fault of mine.”

Something about Iona made Finn’s skin want to crawl off his skeleton. And hide.

A faint drumming accompanied the voice, the thump of a bodhran, its rhythm as ancient as the first heartbeat of the world.

Icy silence frosted the inside of the cab.  

 
STANDARD DISCLAIMER: Book of the Week is simply the best book I happened to read in a given week. There are likely other books as good or better that I just didn’t happen to read that week. Also, all reviews here will be written to highlight a book’s positive qualities. It is my policy that if I don’t have something nice to say online, I won’t say anything at all (usually). I’ll leave you to discover the negative qualities of each week’s book on your own.  

Book Review: THE OBSIDIAN PEBBLE by Rhys A. Jones

First Paragraph(s): Oz Chambers sat in his bedroom, desperately trying to concentrate on his algebra homework and ignore the tempting bottle of blood on his desk. He dragged his eyes away from the crimson phial and struggled with two maths questions, before trying to get to grips with the essay on “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” he’d been dabbling with all week. He liked English, and especially reading, but that didn’t make the essay any easier. 
Oz sighed heavily. It was no good. Today was proving to be a particularly hopeless homework day because he just couldn’t settle. He was simply too excited by the prospect of what was in store that evening.

Hi there, Esteemed Reader! Happy Thanksgiving! The Obsidian Pebble is to be my last Book of the Week of 2013 and it's a great one to go out on. 

The Obsidian Pebble is a hard book to sum up. It's a haunted house story, a superhero-ish story, a story about a boy dealing with the death of his father, and above all, an extremely English story:) It's vaguely reminiscent of the best parts of Harry Potter, but The Obsidian Pebble is it's own wonderful concoction.

It all begins with teen Oz Chambers, who's inherited his very own mansion:

“I wish I had a long-lost uncle who would leave me something in his will. Wouldn’t it be great if it’s your sixteenth birthday and a crusty old lawyer bloke turns up with a crinkly yellow envelope full of stocks and bonds and stuff worth zillions?” Ruff was looking at the ceiling, but his eyes were seeing something else altogether. 
Oz didn’t really know what stocks and bonds were and neither, he suspected, did Ruff. But they sounded really impressive. 
“As if that would ever happen to anyone,” Ellie tutted. 
Ruff threw her a baleful, sulky look. “It sort of happened to Oz, didn’t it? His dad, anyway.” 
“Yeah, well, getting something like this dropped in your lap isn’t exactly like winning the lottery, you know,” Oz said, not wanting to let Ruff and Ellie argue. “It costs loads to run and takes ages to clean. And even the draughts have draughts.”

The bad news is the mansion is haunted:

“And anyway, the place is a legend. It was even in Hidden Haunted Houses of Great Britain.” 
“I didn’t know that,” Oz said. 
“Ye-ah, it was in the reference section in Waterstone’s the other day. It said something like… ‘an old orphanage on Magnus Street in Seabourne now occupies the site of the Bunthorpe Encounter. One of the most famous supernatural occurrences in the country.’” 
“Cool,” Oz said, pleased. “I’ll Google it later.” 
“Looks more real in a book, though, somehow, don’t you think?” Ellie said. 
Oz knew what she meant. He made a mental note to look it up next time he was in the bookshop.

Incidentally, I have to chuckle at that last sentiment. I'm sure there are some children in the world who prefer reference books to Google, but not many. I made a crack in my last post about printed books being horse-drawn buggies in comparison to ebooks, which are like automobiles. Rhys A. Jones commented in favor of print books, and though I agree they're lovely, hoping future readers will put up with them when they have ebooks is akin to hoping children will rely on printed references when they have Google. It's a nice thought, but not likely:)

The real fun begins when Oz finds a package addressed to him, posted the day before his father's death. Obviously, a package like that must contain something of importance, and this one contains the obsidian pebble. I won't spoil the secrets this tale holds, but the pebble has powers most curious which lead Oz into a wonderful adventure you're going to enjoy.  

My what a lot of dead parents there are in middle grade fiction:) Last review, we discussed the death of the protagonist's mother in Killer Species #1. In The Obsidian Pebble, it's dad's turn, and Jones does a nice job of showing us Oz's emotions and allowing us to feel his loss. But what I really liked was the way dad's death impacts Oz's relationship with his mother. I felt like mom's reaction to the death of her husband was realistic and adds another layer to Oz's grief:

Depression. Reactive unipolar. 
The second bit didn’t sound too bad when he read it back. In fact, it didn’t sound like an illness at all. Unipolar sounded more like something you might use to repair a broken radio. But there was nothing easily fixable about the way his mother wouldn’t eat, or didn’t want to be hugged, or didn’t shower, or slouched about in a dressing gown for days at a time. There was nothing he could buy from an electrical shop to stop her crying for hours on end.

In fact, I liked all of the adult characters in The Obsidian Pebble, particularly Oz's instructor, Boggs. I wish this speech was mandatory reading for children everywhere and it may be my favorite passage from the book: 

Boggs turned in disgust and marched to the front of the class. When he reached the blackboard he pivoted to face the whole of 1C, wearing a sour-faced scowl. 
“I’ve seen it all before. Cocky little first years who think they know it all, so sure that you’re all going to change the world.” Boggs shook his head and his face sneered into a nasty imitation of a smile. “Well, let me tell you something, my naïve little friends. The real world isn’t about talent shows and people making idiots of themselves on TV for thirty seconds of fame. None of you are going to wake up with magical powers that will get you all the things you want. Life is not a fantasy film. The truth is that, from now on, it’s a hard slog because bills don’t pay themselves. In just a few short years, you, like everyone else, will have to sell your souls to the banks to borrow money to get a mortgage to buy a house. And that means getting up early and going to work every day even when the weather’s perfect and all you really want to do is go to the beach or toboggan on Marsden Hill.”
Boggs’ face had gone blotchy purple, and little flecks of spit had begun to froth at the corners of his mouth, but he wasn’t finished yet. “I’ve got two years left of my thirty years of commitment to this profession. Murderers get less than I have served here. So, I have no interest whatsoever in soft-soaping you lot, and that means that I will not put up with any nonsense from any of you.” 

Not to worry, Esteemed Reader. I have more favorite passages for you. And as we've reached the end of the review, it's a good time to break them out. If you're looking for an enjoyable fantasy with heart, don't miss The Obsidian Pebble.

As always, I'll leave you with some of my favorite passages from The Obsidian Pebble:

They crossed a passageway to another door, which opened out into a large, shabby-looking entrance hall with a massive double staircase leading up to the floor above. The place smelled musty and unused and their voices echoed into the chilly emptiness when they spoke.

There was no sound at all in the atrium as midnight approached, but outside the wind moaned as it gusted around the stone walls and beams creaked as the old place resisted the elements. Oz finished adjusting his watch and reached down to pick up the bottle when a noise made him start. Footsteps. Oz looked up suddenly. Maybe Ellie wanted something else from the kitchen. More likely it would be Ruff. But there was no one there. He started to climb the stairs again. Must have been his imag… Oz stopped and stood stock-still. Soft and deliberate and sounding very near, the footsteps came again.

She was a small, thin girl with elfin features, short dark hair and a constantly intense expression. Her clothes were shapeless and fashionably drab and she’d gone for “backwards through a hedge” as a hairstyle, with great success. 

Whoever had thought up algebra should have been hung in a gibbet, like they did to people in Sir Gawain’s time.
 
Oz was always struck at how devoid of colour Boggs was. It was as if he’d decided to live his life in monochrome. His moustache was grey-flecked, his hair (what little he had of it) was silvering, and he even had a constant smattering of grey-cigarette ash on the lapels of his charcoal herringbone jacket. His eyebrows were the only feature in an otherwise sour-looking face that gave any hint of original colouring in that they were dark and bushy 

STANDARD DISCLAIMER: All reviews here will be written to highlight a book’s positive qualities. It is my policy that if I don’t have something nice to say online, I won’t say anything at all (usually). I’ll leave you to discover the negative qualities of each week’s book on your own. 
 

Reviews, Interviews, and Guest Posts for ALL TOGETHER NOW: A ZOMBIE STORY

If you have a blog or a site and you'd like to interview me or have me over for a guest post, I'd be thrilled. Just ask.

If you've written a review of the book, let me know and I'll link to it here.

Reviews

"When I say I found this book horrifying, I mean that in a good way. I mean it in the best way there is. There were moments in this book that completely spun me out. I read the disclaimer, but I wasn’t expecting it to be as intense as it was."
Anniki's Bookcase 

"All Together Now is a book that  is fast paced, well written and thought provoking while still filling its pages with plenty of action, suspense and of course Zombie carnage. If you like Zombie Action combined with dark humor and a twinge of romance than All Together Now is definitely for you."

Blood, Sweat, and Books 


TOTALLY NAILED IT! The best zombie horror book I have ever read! From first word to the last, you'll get hooked. After reading the book, my heart was crying, I NEEDED MORE!!! Honestly, this book is so hauntingly amazing. Truly a MASTERPIECE! 
Books and Authors Spot


"The story is seriously fun, really easy to read, and the characters are easy to cheer for. And there are some fabulous one liners in this, seriously… for a zombie book I think I laughed much more than I cringed! Well, maybe a bit, maybe not more…
Creating Serenity

"Robert Kent's All Together Now explodes with action, near escapes, flying guts (and other body parts), and bad luck for the main characters followed by even worse luck. In other words, a perfect YA zombie book. But the heart of this story are the realistic characters. I found myself staying up late over several nights, unable to put Ricky's tale down."
Darby Karchut 


"I was absolutely glued to my kindle till the early hours. The short chapters make it easy to read for those who just want to pick it up and put it down, but I bet you can't stop once you start. Every chapter is action-packed, fast-paced and full of suspense, but still maintaining believability even from a 15-year-old's perspective. The action is heart-pounding, gripping, and in some places I actually found myself holding my breath while I speedily read through the pages to find out what was going to happen next... and... breathe."
Gadget Girl Reviews




"I found no faults with this book, it flows well, is edited well and it is wickedly smart. There are also some very good moral lessons which gives us a very good reason to share this book with the young adults in our lives. It is guaranteed to warp their young minds, and hey, isn’t that how we all started to love the genre?  I really cared for Ricky and Michelle, I loved the originality of the story and it was never predictable.  In  my opinion that deserves 5 stars. Whether you love zombies or not, I think you will really enjoy All Together Now: A Zombie Story!"
Horror-Web


"Loved the book and I want more." 
Larissa and Friends Bookish Life


"This is a book adults, young adults, horror fans, and fans of apocalyptic fiction will love." 
Mike Mullin 


"Kent doesn't pull any punches. This is a violent story, that not only shows the zombie carnage, but also how humans can be just as nasty and dangerous as zombies, if not more so."
Pearls Cast Before A McPig 


"It is a truly fun and disgusting story with a bit of heart."
Sparks and Butterflies


"All Together Now surprised me with interesting twists and an unexpected bit of pizazz."
The Bookie Monster


"This one is a HUGE hit. Kent's writing style flows naturally. He reads like someone who was born to tell a story, and I for one, feel like I want to keep reading his stories... I really cared about the characters in this book. A lot."
Where Zombies Come To Read


"The action, interspersed with introspection, Ricky's back story, the story of why the zombie outbreak occurred,  his relationship with his step sister who he is escaping with, it all melds together in a really moving book."
Amazon Reviews


"I love zombie stories but this one has them all beat."
Goodreads Reviews

Reviews for All Right Now

"A gruesome, skin-tightening (so it doesn't get chewed off) wild ride of a zombie short story. It has everything you would expect from Robert Kent: crisp writing, vivid descriptions, and spot on pacing. But the finest thing about this horror story is that it is really a love story - the love between a father and his son."

Darby Karchut 

"This may be a short story but its an action packed and is a horrific, heart-pounding read."

Gadget Girl Reviews

"I’ve got to say, this is my favorite Kent work so far, and the sneaky little way he twined the two stories together was incredible. I will gladly read anything this man writes in this world. Kudos to Kent! This one is worthy of a nomination for the Best of 2014 list!"

The Bookie Monster

"As always, Robert Kent delivers in this short story. His writing draws you in from the beginning, and keeps you involved throughout the story."

Where Zombies Come To Read

"This tale will leave your pulse racing, your mind whirling, your stomach turning, and your heart aching. A fast-paced, satisfying read that will leave the reader thinking about both the zombie apocalypse and the journey of embracing fatherhood in the most extreme conditions."

Amazon Reviews

"This zombie apocalypse roller-coaster ride ticks a lot of boxes for a reader who doesn't seek out zombies particularly. What lifts it above the usual gore-fest is the smooth style and the sumptuous slice of Americana that Mr Kent serves up, carved and laid out with surgical precision."

Goodreads Reviews

Interviews

A fun interview with Anniki at Anniki's Bookcase


A groovy interview with Star at The Bibliophilic Book Blog


A serene interview with Christina T. at Creating Serenity


A horror-iffic interview with Absinthe Immortal at Horror-Web


A zombified interview with Where Zombies Come To Read


A monstrous interview with The Bookie Monster 

A character-developing interview with author Jessica Lawson at Falling Leaflets

Guest Posts

"Derangement is Another Form of Love" at Pearls Cast Before a McPig


"Is it Possible to Write a Realistic Zombie Book for Kids" at Zombie Guide Magazine


"Robert Kent Annoys Christians (And Zombies)" at Zombie Pop