Review: Dearly Departed ( Gone With the Respiration 1) by Lia Habel

Title: Dearly Departed ( Gone With the Respiration 1)

Author: Lia Habel

Published: October 18th 2011 by by Del Rey

Book Description:

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.

My Thoughts:

                                Love conquers all, so they say. But can Cupid’s arrow pierce the hearts of the living and the dead or rather, the undead? 

                   I’ve wanted to read this book for ages, the cover is amazing and I’m a sucker for zombies! The plot is interesting, a proper Victorian lady and a dashing zombie in love? 


Story
The story started with a big bang! On Bram’s POV (Can’t say more to avoid spoilers). I was instantly hooked!  Nora, one of the lead characters had lost her parents and is now living under her wicked domineering aunt. The story became more interesting when the undead started hunting her. What is the mystery around her father's death? Who are the LAZ ? What do they want from her? You have to read this book to find out. 


Setting
I was surprised that this book was set in the future, an era called the New Victoria. The way the author describes Nora’s world, impressed me. I was immersed in her world immediately. New Victoria Era is amazing! The era is technologically inclined and the costume/clothes are beautifully described. What a nice setting for the story! 

 Characters  
The characters are believable, they have a strong voice.  Bram is sweet, handsome and undead. He takes care of Nora, making sure she doesn’t get scared as hell! Nora is an interesting character. I like how she turned from scaredy cat to kick-ass chick.  I also like how the characters have their own POV. No more guessing what the others are thinking.There are some interesting characters like Victor, Pam and Wolfe. You get to read their side of the story as well.


Love Angle
Bram and Nora’s relationship is one of a kind, it’s not every day you fall in love with the undead. 

Overall, this book is enjoyable. I recommend this book to people who loves Zombies, action, gore and romance.

I give this book 4 whales.