It felt a bit like pride and prejudice and Downton Abbey with zombies thrown in. I struggled with reading it for that reason.

Note that the book ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, so there should be more to come...

It has the hilarious and campy feel to it but it just had some off points that were tough for me...i skipped through it because some parts just put me to sleep

I tried hard to read this book, repeatedly. It sounded like Downton Abbey, with zombies. I was infatuated with the idea. Unfortunately the writing style didn't work for me at all. I felt like I was decifering rather than reading, and it ruined the story.

What a unique, hilarious take on a classic style. I really enjoyed this book a lot. The plot whips by and the concept is so uniquely funny!

Will no longer be reading or reviewing this book due to lack of interest in the title, following multiple attempts to complete the book, resulting in a DNF, and the fact that the title has been archived.

Zombie Abbey is a fun take on what seems like Downton Abbey meets zombies! Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres and blending it together with zombies sounded like something that was right up my alley. This was definitely an entertaining read and something different from what I have been reading lately. Would definitely recommend for anyone looking for a departure from the "usual" historical fiction book!

Unfortunately, this book was not a good match for me, and I will decline to review. I hope plenty of other readers find it more compatible, and thank you for the opportunity to review!

I received an ARC of this from Entangled Publishing via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun little book if you're into Zombies, 1920's England, Downton Abbey, and Jane Austen novels. There's not a heck of a lot of substance to it so if you're looking for a really engaging story with a great ending, this isn't for you. I was a bit disappointed actually. I was really frustrated by the characters, their attitudes and I was left very wanting with the ending. I'm not sure if this is a series but in the event that it's not....what gives? There's so many questions and loose ends!

I've heard good things about this story, and while it's not something I normally read, it was a nice change! I really enjoyed the way this story was written. We get to see daily life that's similar to Downton Abbey, then suddenly it changes over to the Walking Dead. With humor and horror in equal measures, this is a fun and enjoyable read!

The Clarke sisters like any ladies of their status, are expected to marry, and marry well. At first that seems like a simple thing, and very ordinary, but when things don't go as planned, things really get interesting! Soon they are less worried about marriage and more worried about stopping the zombies. As the story goes on, we get to really see each of the sisters shine, and show their true personalities.

The story does end in a cliffhanger, which I'm excited about because that means there's more to come!

A story with Austen undertones… and zombies. (I’ve seen it compared to ‘Pride and Prejudice and Zombies’, but not having read that one, I honestly can’t tell.)

At Porthampton Abbey, a couple of years after World War I, the Clarke family has to contend with the problem of the entail, just like in ‘Pride and Prejudice’—meaning that if one of the daughters (preferably the elder, Kate) doesn’t marry very soon and has a male heir, their family will lose their estate after the death of Earl Clarke. Which is why the latter has invited a couple of potential suitors to stay for the weekend, including an older businessman from London, a duke, and a recently discovered cousin who’s very likely to inherit anyway, considering he’s the only male heir (but here’s to hope he’ll marry Kate, and all will be well in the world). And the story would go its posh, merry way, if not for the strange death of a villager, found half-devoured… A villager whom his widow has to kill a second time with a bullet to the head.

The beginning of this story definitely has its appeal: the Clarkes display a comical mix of common sense (Kate when it comes to hunting, for instance) and quirky, whimsical inability to grasp that other people are not only their servants, they’re, well, human beings with their own lives, too. This was a conflict in itself in the book, with the ‘Upstairs’ people having to realise that they have to pay more attention to the ‘Downstairs’ people. The build-up to the part where zombies actually make an appearance was a little slow, but in itself, it didn’t bother me, because discovering the characters (and rolling my eyes while trying to guess who’d kick the bucket) was quite fun. Granted, some of the characters weren’t very likeable; the earl felt too silly, Kate too insensitive… but on the other hand, I liked where Lizzy and Grace started and how they progressed—Lizzy as the girl whom everyone thinks stupid, yet who turns out to be level-headed when things become dangerous, and Grace being likely the most humane person in her family. The suitors, too, looked rather bland at first, however a couple of them started developing more of a (pleasant) personality. And I quite liked Fanny as well, the quiet-at-first but assertive maid who refuses to let ‘propriety’ walk all over charity.

After a while, though, the style became a little repetitive. The way the various characters’ point of views were introduced at the beginning of each chapter or sub-chapter, for some reason, tended to grate on my nerves, I’m not exactly sure why; and while I don’t have issues with casts of more than 2-3 POV characters, here the focus regularly went back to some action already shown in a previous chapter, but this time from another character’s point of view, which felts redundant.

I also thought that while there -were- zombies, I’d have liked seeing a little more of them. There was tension, but I never felt the story was really scary (for me and for the characters both), and the moments when a character got hurt was usually due to their being too stupid to live and doing something that no one in their sane mind should’ve done anyway.

Finally, I’m not satisfied with the ending: I don’t know it there’ll be a sequel or not, but if it’s meant to be a standalone, then it leaves way too many things open.

Conclusion: 2.5 /3 stars. I’m curious about how the situation at Porthampton Abbey will unfold, and if there were a sequel, that’d be good, because it’d mean the characters could finish growing, too.

10/10 would recommend. This was Downton Abbey dropped into the Walking Dead and written like a Jane Austen novel. It was fantastic! It was slow to introduce the zombies, you really had more of the Downton Abbey feel at first.You get a full sense of all the characters, you don’t know every single thing about them but like wow you have such a good idea of who they are and you can see small developments. It’s a very well thought out book with very interesting characters. Lizzy ended up being my favorite, she was just the most interesting out of all of them.Overall, I thought this was great! I could not put it down. I recommend this to anyone who is a fan of zombies or Downton Abbey or Jane Austen. It was done so well and liked this way more than I thought I would. The only thing is: I want more!

Zombie Abbey was such a fun read! This wonderful book is a mash up of Downtown Abbey and Pride & Prejudice & Zombies (which I love). I am a huge zombie fan (yes, I watch The Walking Dead), so Zombie Abbey was right up my alley and a book I was looking forward to devouring.

Zombie Abbey has a wonderful mix of historical horror, romance, and some humor. The first few chapters did take me a few minutes to grip, as I haven't read a historical book in quite some time. With that being said though, it was easy enough to fall into the writing and the story. The writing was exactly how I would imagine the 1920s would be like; the author did a great job of describing the time and the characters. Lauren Baratz-Logsted gives each reader the sense of what that time period was like; in my opinion, I felt like I was living in that time period with how wonderfully descriptive the book was.

The Clarke family is the main focus of the story, mainly the three sisters. The chapters that were made of the sisters' point of views were light and refreshing, and I looked forward to reading the chapters in their perspectives. There were times where I got confused because the point of view does jump around, but my confusion was an easy fix.

When the zombie action came into play, that's when I felt the real story took off and the characters started to really develop. Zombie Abbey is not like The Walking Dead, where zombie hoards are at every corner; Zombie Abbey was more of a slow burn, in the sense that zombies did not hurtle or huddle together. I really liked that because it seemed more realistic to me, especially for that time period.

All in all, Zombie Abbey was an exhilarating read, one that I would highly recommend to readers who love zombie books and stories that take place in another time period. If the synopsis and/or my review piqued your interest, check out the excerpt below! And don't forget to enter the giveaway!! :)

The language was witty, the heroines were brave and cunning, and the young men were dashing (cue intense swooning). I was pleasantly surprised by it all, and ended up reading the whole book in a single sitting. It was honestly hard to put down (and, as you know from my previous reviews, I’m not the easiest to impress). I’m such a sucker for anything 1)historical, 2)British and 3)clever. I’m happy that I found all three in this story.

The whole story was just so British, I couldn’t help but loved it. Of course, every good family is in need of a male heir (enter three mildly interesting suitors)! And every good family is in need of loyal servants to fight off the undead and to see to their every whim!

The author stayed true to the time period and made it believable (i.e., I didn’t think I was reading a contemporary novel, even though I was). I loved the well-read Fanny and her analyses of the situation. Right at the start of the book, her display of knowledge of Bram Stoker’s Dracula got me hooked on her character (anybody who can reference Stoker is A-okay in my books). I’m starting to notice a trope/trend with kitchen maids; they’re always the cleverest ones in the house!

It was my first time to read a book about zombies. And reading Zombie Abbey enables me to be read more zombie books.

Reading it gave me vibes that only Pride and Prejudice can give. But the book is no way a carbon copy of it. It only has the vibes and some similarities from the book.

I love how the characteristics of each characters. As they show how woman can cope up with men and how strong they are. They are also some parts where the girls are a little bit confusing. They really start developing in a slow-paced but rest assured that their characteristics in the end will be well-developed.

There are some gruesome parts that are not suitable for young readers. But if the young readers insists in reading it, I suggest that prepare yourself for an epic adventure.

The ending is so good that it makes me want talk to the author why do that. And please write a sequel or a part two of the ending.

I really suggest that you should read Zombie Alley for those  who seeks action packed adventure that has Pride and Prejudice vibes.

3.5 stars

Zombie Abbey
Lauren Baratz-Logsted
Entangled Teen, April 2018
ISBN 978-1-63375-911-4
Trade Paperback

From the publisher—

1920, England

And the three teenage Clarke sisters thought what they’d wear to dinner was their biggest problem…

Lady Kate, the entitled eldest.

Lady Grace, lost in the middle and wishing she were braver.

Lady Lizzy, so endlessly sunny, it’s easy to underestimate her.

Then there’s Will Harvey, the proud, to-die-for—and possibly die with!—stable boy; Daniel Murray, the resourceful second footman with a secret; Raymond Allen, the unfortunate-looking young duke; and Fanny Rogers, the unsinkable kitchen maid.

Upstairs! Downstairs! Toss in some farmers and villagers!

None of them ever expected to work together for any reason.

But none of them had ever seen anything like this.

There are zombies and then there are zombies, you know? To put it in TV perspective, you can watch The Walking Dead if you like the serious sort, Z Nation for pure camp or iZombie if you’re looking for smile-worthy unadulterated fun. Or, hey, go for all three!

Zombie Abbey falls squarely into the fun category although it takes a while to get there. I thought the first half or so was more like an oldfashioned comedy of manners but with a plethora of characters I had to get to know as well as possible. As an historical novel set at an English manor on the cusp of the Roaring Twenties, it reminded me a lot of the Downton Abbey and Upstairs Downstairs stories which are very appealing to me. In fact, I almost expected an Agatha Christie kind of mystery to evolve.

The introduction of the zombie factor had its amusing moments, especially in the stereotypical ability of the British high society to live in denial, unable to fully comprehend the possibility of such a thing upsetting the routine. Each of the many primary characters has a part to play and I most appreciated the three sisters (although Lady Kate is not exactly likeable) and Fanny, the maid with attitude.

Zombie Abbey won’t be for all readers but I enjoyed it, largely because I’m a zombie fan 😉

Reviewed by Lelia Taylor, April 2018.

**Review on https://smadasbooksmack.blogspot.com/ **
This book is listed as Downton Abbey meets Zombies, which struck me as very interesting (and exciting!). Disclaimer: I have never seen Downton Abbey (yes, I know, I planned to watch it but life and reading has interfered) but I have friends who rave about it so I thought I would give this book a try. Also, I love EVERYTHING zombies (movies, tv, pop culture but mainly zombie books) and Pride and Prejudice and Zombies was one of my favorite movies so I was hoping this would be along the same lines as that.




I actually found this to be a spoofy version of a zombie British history where sure there are some terrible deaths, destruction, and horror elements, but it had an overall feel of a comedy of manners, where a potential zombie outbreak takes a back seat to a possible etiquette crisis.

There are a ton of characters and voices in the story, each chapter told from a new person's point of view from Kate, the daughter of the Lord of the manor, random guests (suitors, doctors, ect...) and servants, to the family's spoiled cats. I will admit to being very confused while I was first reading Zombie Abbey since I was trying to keep everyone straight and figure out what was actually going on plot-wise. I was on overload for the first third of the story. Since there were so many characters, it was also hard to connect to any one character, I had no idea who to root for survival and who to hope was eaten (yes morbid I know, but these are zombies we are dealing with!). Once I had a better grasp on who the people were I was slowly coming to understand, I got lost in the antics, mischief, drama and horror of the book and I absolutely loved it! This was just the dramedy that I needed, a perfect, ridiculous escape read.




I highly enjoyed this fun, unique read and I highly recommend Zombie Abbey to those who like the rules and manners of the English Aristocracy mixed with the danger and fear of the undead zombies. This was such a great escape from regular life!

​I am voluntarily reviewing an advance, complimentary copy of this book.

It's been a long time since I had read a zombie novel and even more, one as entertaining as Zombie Abbey! Reminiscent to one of my favorite TV shows, Downton Abbey, and one of my all-time favorite novels, Pride and Prejudice -- this novel turned out to be a delight to read about from page one!

What I Liked:

I've never been much of a fan of zombies (gore and horror is not really my thing), but after reading the premise of this novel, I just knew I had to read it. And let me tell you, it did not disappoint AT ALL. I laughed, I swooned a bit, perhaps even felt stressed and sad as a few favorite characters were taken down and turned into zombies. Before I knew it, I was done with the novel and in need for more! (Will there be more?! Hope so!)

Zombie Abbey has several alternating points of view, from the three Clarke sisters to the staff working at Porthampton Abbey. It's a bit hard keeping up with them at first, but as soon as I managed to recognize who is who based on Downton Abbey, it proved to be a much easier read for me and also a lot more fun since I could easily picture them in my head (I just looove Downton Abbey's characters so much!). In this novel, my favorite POVs/characters turned out to be Fanny (the maid), and the Clarke Sisters (especially Grace and Lizzy).

This book might have a slow start since it takes its time to introduce the situation of Porthampton Abbey's occupants, but it later turns into an action-packed chaos as the Upstairs (Clarkes) and the Downstairs (the staff) have to set aside their prejudices and work together before they get their hearts eaten and turned into zombies! It's well worth the wait if you ask me. ;)

However, if you are expecting horror, then you might not get what you want since it's not truly a horrifying read. It has quite a bit of gore, but the overall take on Zombies and the reactions of Porthampton Abbey's residents when they face them is super funny. I loved it this way, but I can see how some might not really enjoy it. But if you are faint of heart like me, this might also be your kind of read! With Zombies!

What Left Me Wanting More:

I have to admit that I was a expecting more right at the ending. It's left a bit too loose and I'm afraid we will never know how things turn out for some of characters as this seems to be a standalone novel. But perhaps there is hope for a sequel? Crossing fingers!

Final Verdict:

If you are looking for a diverting paranormal read à la Downton Abbey and Pride and Prejudice with lots and lots of zombies, then you'll surely enjoy Zombie Abbey and come to love everyone at Porthampton Abbey! ♥

I loved this book! I miss watching Downton Abbey so much, so this book filled that hole in my life!

This book is a young adult version of Downton Abbey, mixed with a lot of humour. I could recognize which character in Downton Abbey matched the ones in Zombie Abbey. Fanny was the ditzy kitchen maid, who had lots of opinions on the people upstairs. She reminded me of Daisy in Downton. Katherine was the oldest daughter and Benedict was her distant cousin, who is also her father’s heir. They reminded me of Mary and Matthew in Downton. Those are just a couple of the most obvious comparisons, but almost every character in this story has a match in Downton. These similarities were great because it made it easier to differentiate between the many characters in this ensemble cast.

The story was quite funny too. The Clarke family was very oblivious to the problems of the farmers and villagers. This was different from the Crawley family on Downton, who cared about the people on their land. The zombies that appeared were also funny, because they were so unexpected. When reading about an early 20th century English estate, you don’t expect to see Zombies pop up on their hunting trips. The zombie aspect of the story was a lot like Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, because though we are familiar with the story, the zombies disrupt the narrative in a funny way.

I loved this story! This a must read for fans of Downton Abbey and Pride and Prejudice and Zombies!

YA historical fantasy is the genre I gravitate toward when I'm in need of a pick-me-up. When I found out that Zombie Abbey was a YA historical horror novel, I couldn't get my hands on it fast enough. It's an absolutely delightful mashup of Downtown Abbey and zombies. There were times where I laughed out loud and times where I just stared at the page and said "ew." Needless to say, it succeeded in meeting my expectations for both genres.

Zombie Abbey was just such an incredibly fun book to read. I thought that Baratz-Logsted captured the tension between Upstairs and Downstairs perfectly. She found the humor in their interactions. There were also some moments where the characters would make observations about their situation that made me laugh out loud. Additionally, I enjoyed the way that the class distinctions slowly grew smaller and the effects that had on the characters. The plot was definitely on the slower side but I mostly enjoyed that in this case. 

The plot was delightfully dark and took some unexpected turns. However, after finishing the book, I'm not sure if it's a standalone or the first in the series. It reads more like the latter, in which case I am very much looking forward to the sequel. The characters were all wonderful, although I did get them confused with each other sometimes because the cast was so large. None of them were particularly sympathetic but I still found myself caring for them. The grandmother was easily my favorite, particularly as the book progressed.

I would recommend Zombie Abbey if you're looking for a light, fun YA historical fiction read that's a bit darker.

Zombie Abbey in an entertaining mashup of the world of Downton Abbey and zombies that's more fun to read if you focus on the details a bit less. (Historical accuracy in particular seems a bit iffy...) There's a lot of tongue-in-cheek humor and hints of romantic undercurrents running throughout, but the large number of POVs feels ungainly at times and makes true character growth difficult. Things move fairly slowly for much of the book (a reflection of the mobility and thought processes of the zombies themselves, perhaps?) which serves to make the ending itself feel more abrupt and jarring...hopefully there's going to be a sequel, because this book doesn't really wrap much of anything up by the final page. There was definitely enough here to invest me in the promise of possible HEAs--or not--for the characters, so my fingers are crossed that there will be a next book soon!

Rating: 3 1/2 stars / C+

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

Zombie Abbey is a YA mashup of Dowton Abbey and [book:Pride and Prejudice and Zombies|5899779], with dry humor, extremely snobby, oblivious gentry, and servants with stars in their eyes.

At times I found the writing stilted and the characters annoying and I did not like <spoiler>the cliffhanger ending!</spoiler> but the concept was great.