Queen of the Dead, Book 1

Read November 8-11, 2025

Rating (3.5 stars)

Free to read in KU https://a.co/d/1jsoDlv

Zombies, mind control, and super-soldiers… oh my!

Based on the book’s description I was picturing a post-apocalyptic zombie romp, but that’s not quite accurate… at least, not at first. In Nikol’s world, zombies have arrived and they pose a real threat, yet somehow life continues. There is still a functional society with stores and restaurants and coffee shops… there’s just a more strident need for security, especially after dark.

After awakening alone & injured in an alleyway, Nikol has no memory of her life before and must strike out on her own in a world which is fraying at the edges. But survival is hard, and Nikol finds herself desperate for money, a job, and a roof over her head…so she sells the only commodity she has left: her body. After signing up for an online auction to sell her virginity, Nikol gets swept up in a new life. A handsome, rich man has won her, but he promises so much more than a single night of pleasure. She takes a job at a swanky club and, due to circumstances outside her control, moves in with the man who ‘won’ her. Personally, the whole selling her virginity part of the story felt unecessary and a tad over-the-top, but that’s just my opinion. I would have been more willing to believe she just got swept up in a whirlwind romance with the devastatingly handsome & rich Thorne than the storyline we were given.

In the first chapter it was established that zombies only pose a real threat at night, but further explanations takes a while to come, so be patient. Basically the first quarter of the book is Nikol adjusting to her new life and settling into a routine with her rich boyfriend. But then, suddenly, the story shifts and Nikol is forced to flee, all while learning about her mysterious (but useful) powers, unraveling rumors of government conspiracies and secret experiments, and banding together with other Revenants in a desperate bid for survival. Nikol is a smart woman, but with her missing memories she doesn’t really know how smart she is. She’s surrounded by interesting, and brutally handsome, men who each call to her in various ways… leading to some spicy content and ‘why choose’ encounters. For me, the last 3/4 of the book were the reason to read it, even if it does end in one doozy of a cliffhanger.

If I were to give readers a single word to keep in the forefront of their mind while reading Revenant’s Dawn, it would be “fantasy.” Nikol’s story may feel like it takes place in another version of our world, but if you ascribe too much reality to the tale you’re likely to find yourself shaking your head. If you can grant it the leeway of fantasy, you’re in for one helluva ride.