ARC Review: Dead Reckoning by Mercedes Lackey and Rosemary Edghill

Dead Reckoning

Authors: Mercedes Lackey and Rosemary EdghillPublication: Bloomsbury USA Childrens; 1 edition (June 5, 2012)

Description: Jett is a girl disguised as a boy, living as a gambler in the old West as she searches for her long-lost brother. Honoria Gibbons is a smart, self-sufficient young woman who also happens to be a fabulous inventor. Both young women travel the prairie alone – until they are brought together by a zombie invasion! As Jett and Honoria investigate, they soon learn that these zombies aren’t rising from the dead of their own accord … but who would want an undead army? And why? This gunslinging, hair-raising, zombie western mashup is perfect for fans of Cowboys vs. Aliens and Pride & Prejudice & Zombies.
My Thoughts: Jett Gallatin is a young woman dressed as a man and living as a gambler and gunfighter as she explores the West looking for her Twin brother. She hasn't seen him since he went off to the Civil War as a drummer boy with his father and brothers. She knows her father and other brothers are dead and she knows that her home was destroyed and mother is dead too because of the Yankees. She feels she would know if her brother was dead because they are twins. She also feels that the West is the only place her brother could be since many Southerners fled there to avoid the Reconstruction. 
One day Jett drifts into a town just a bit before it is overrun by zombies. She flees along with her horse Nightingale and runs into the camp of Honoria Gibbons. Honoria is the free-thinking daughter of a wealthy eccentric from San Francisco. She is a scientist and inventor. One of her inventions is her horseless, steam-powered carriage. She has set herself up as her father's protector. She wants to save him from falling for con men who play on his credulity to get his money. Gibbons is investing mysterious disappearances. Her father wants her to look for phantom airships. She prefers a more rational cause of the disappearances.
White Fox, orphan white child raised by Indians and currently an Army scout, is also tracking down disappearances for a friend. 
This three very disparate characters come together to find out who is creating zombies, how it is being done, why it is being done, and to find out a way to stop it. All three bring their various strengths to the cause and all three become good friends despite their varied backgrounds.
The book is filled with adventures, scary zombies, cool steampunk machines and friendship. I recommend it to fans of paranormals who also want some adventure. 
Favorite Quote:

A Yankee's still a Yankee, she told herself stubbornly. And I seem to have fallen into a nest of 'em. She couldn't manage to work up her usual anger at the invaders who'd destroyed her home and her family tonight, though. Bad as they might be, they weren't as bad as the unquiet dead.

I received this eARC from Bloomsbury via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. You can buy your copy here.