Dearly, Departed Review

Title: Dearly, Departed
Author: Lia Habel
Pages: 467
Publisher: Del Rey Books
Source: Borrowed from my Library


Goodreads Summary:

Love conquers all, so they say. But can Cupid’s arrow pierce the hearts of the living and the dead—or rather, the undead? Can a proper young Victorian lady find true love in the arms of a dashing zombie? 
The year is 2195. The place is New Victoria—a high-tech nation modeled on the manners, mores, and fashions of an antique era. A teenager in high society, Nora Dearly is far more interested in military history and her country’s political unrest than in tea parties and debutante balls. But after her beloved parents die, Nora is left at the mercy of her domineering aunt, a social-climbing spendthrift who has squandered the family fortune and now plans to marry her niece off for money. For Nora, no fate could be more horrible—until she’s nearly kidnapped by an army of walking corpses. 
But fate is just getting started with Nora. Catapulted from her world of drawing-room civility, she’s suddenly gunning down ravenous zombies alongside mysterious black-clad commandos and confronting “The Laz,” a fatal virus that raises the dead—and hell along with them. Hardly ideal circumstances. Then Nora meets Bram Griswold, a young soldier who is brave, handsome, noble . . . and dead. But as is the case with the rest of his special undead unit, luck and modern science have enabled Bram to hold on to his mind, his manners, and his body parts. And when his bond of trust with Nora turns to tenderness, there’s no turning back. Eventually, they know, the disease will win, separating the star-crossed lovers forever. But until then, beating or not, their hearts will have what they desire.
In Dearly, Departed, romance meets walking-dead thriller, spawning a madly imaginative novel of rip-roaring adventure, spine-tingling suspense, and macabre comedy that forever redefines the concept of undying love.

My Take:

Let me start by saying that this was my very first zombie novel. Secondly, let me say...HOLY COW, I'm so GLAD!!!!

Lia Habel created a world that is different, yet familiar. I TOTALLY loved the futuristic Victorian age. The technology that she's added is amazing! Even the retro machinery and clothing -- fantastic!

I loved Nora. She's a great main character! Prim and proper, yet open-minded and handled everything better than I could ever imagine doing. 


Bram. Bram. Bram. Bram, I need a man like you in my life. Such manners. So handsome. Floppy hair. Did I mention the manners? How about breaking the rules to help the girl you liked? The uniform? Sa-woon!  

CHAS! She was so much fun! A zombie who was pretty much a princess in her human life and she remembered what it was like. "Makeover!" I laughed so hard at that! A zombie excited about dressing Nora. SO, so funny!

Pamela. I want to be like her when I grow up. Girl's got some big kahunas! 


Samedi and his head. Hahaha! "Well of course, you've had that bloody uniform on all day. I was half ready to tell you how much I liked you." Teeheee!!!


I wonder what will happen for Miss Mink? And Ren? Ooooo!


Boy, near the end, there were quiiiiite a few pages I sobbed through while reading. Oh my goodness!

My rating:

I WILL be purchasing my own copy of this book and be ready for the rest of the series. AH-MAZING!

This book was read just for fun! No challenges for this one.