Just when you thought Darren Shan couldn’t possibly think up of anyone creepier than the clown, enter Dan Dan. Okay, maybe it would have been creepier if Dan Dan also happened to be a clown, but trust me, I wouldn’t want to run into Dan Dan in broad daylight in the middle of a crowded street, much less a dark alleyway.

Gladiator explores the point of having friends during a zombie apocalypse. We’re not talking allies; we’re talking friends about whom you truly care. Is there any point? They’re just going to get killed eventually and lifespans do tend to plummet under these circumstances. In addition, you will see a couple of situations in which a character must choose between the lesser of two evils. That’s always an interesting character study- What would your decision be if all options were bad options?

As always, there is plenty of zombie gore. And as always, I absolutely recommend this series to anyone who enjoys zombie books. This series is a quick read. For those of you who do not have kids at home because the schools keep cancelling due to snow or cold weather, each book can be finished in one sitting.