The Corpse War of 1793

I finished The Corpse War of 1793 over the course of a weekend. The story was a total page-turner—I found myself constantly wanting to know what happened next. I really hope to see more works of fiction set in the long eighteenth century!

The Corpse War of 1793 really pulled me in from the start. The atmosphere is tense and immersive, and it doesn’t take long to feel completely dropped into its world. The historical setting feels lived-in and believable, which makes everything that happens—especially the horror—hit harder.

One of the standout moments for me was the first major encounter with the undead. It’s genuinely unsettling and sets the tone for the rest of the book. The undead themselves are vividly described in a way that makes them feel truly horrifying, not just generic monsters. They’re a constant, looming threat, which keeps the tension high throughout.

The fact that the undead are deemed impossible to kill adds a constant sense of dread, and you can’t help but wonder how anyone in the 18th century could stand a chance against an un-killable foe!

One key aspect of this book is the idea of fighting undead corpses with muskets, bayonets ,pikes and swords truly makes the book that much more horrifying!

The story builds up to the Battle of Stowlham, which is an intense and unforgettable centrepiece. The chaos, strategy, and sheer scale of it had me on the edge of my seat! It’s more than just action—it’s also a moment where the characters’ fears, courage, and moral dilemmas come fully into play. The stakes feel real because you’re invested in the people fighting, not just the spectacle.

Beyond the action, the emotional depth of the story really stands out. The narrator’s guilt and moral conflicts add weight to the events, making the story feel human and relatable.
The character dynamics are strong, too, you actually care about who lives or dies, which makes the tension of battles like Stowlham even more impactful.

The pacing throughout is excellent. The story keeps moving, building suspense without ever feeling rushed, while also giving time for characters and the period setting to breathe. The attention to historical detail makes the world feel lived-in and makes the horror feel grounded.

Overall, The Corpse War of 1793 is a tense, immersive, and emotionally compelling read. Between the horrifying undead, the moral struggles, and the unforgettable Battle of Stowlham, it’s a zombie story with real depth. I couldn’t put it down, and it’s definitely one I’d recommend to anyone who loves the Idea of 18th century World War Z!

Note: I did already try to publish this review but it is not appearing at all! I don't know if it's glitched for me but if it appears I have written the same review already that's my bad!)

Loved it.

An insanely well-grounded work of historical fantasy. Reading it brought to mind, of all things, Godzilla Minus One. How so? That movie is a compelling human drama set in a pivotal era, accurately recreated, that happens to have kaiju. This book is a compelling human drama set in a pivotal era, again accurately recreated, that happens to have zombies. I'm quite pleased my oldest son gave me this book.

If I still taught undergraduate history I might consider adding this as a fun bonus entry to my suggested readings on the era, with a note to substitute would-be French invaders for the legion of the undead. Five stars, easy.

Please do not be discouraged by the miserable review left by “Zoltán.” I used to edit and typeset for scholarly publishers and this book is not sloppily edited, the font choices are readable, the pages are laid out well in my print edition, and the novel’s pacing is wholly appropriate and comparable, I think, to that of War of the Worlds. Given his own slew of errors, I feel confident in opining that Monsieur Z simply does not know what he is talking about.

The Corpse War Of 1793 is one of the best books, if not the best book, I’ve ever read. It’s extremely entertaining, is historically accurate thanks to Brandon Fisichella’s knowledge, and it has a fairly fast pace. Normally I find that reading hurts my head, but I got through this book much faster than I expected to and was delighted to do it.

There are only two minor problems with the book that I noticed. There are some flaws in the editing (such as with lacking punctuation), but this is inconsequential to the quality of the book. My only gripe, which is very minuscule (very minor spoiler ahead) is that it’s never revealed why the residents of the town where the zombies appear didn’t say anything to the soldiers despite being visibly disturbed. The main character raises this question as well, but I do not remember it ever being answered.