Affliction

by Crystal J. Johnson

Battling to stay alive. Fighting not to fall in love.

Quinn Ellery has one priority since the continent quarantined itself from the rest of the world—stay alive.

For over a year, she and her cousin River have done just that by barricading themselves inside their childhood home. Armed with weapons and a stockpile of food, they have survived those afflicted by the Z virus and the decaying society which wants to enslave them. But a new threat emerges when Ryland Shaw and his three friends break into their house.

Now, one of them is dying on her living room floor.

With no other choice, Quinn agrees to help the men, hoping to get them quickly on their way again. She finds herself in a battle of the wills with Ryland as they embark on a dangerous mission to find the medicine that can save his friend’s life. But with each passing day, frustration transforms into an undeniable chemistry.

Quinn knows only one thing is more dangerous than a Z—a stubborn, handsome distraction.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Post Apocalyptic, Zombies, Dystopia, Apocalyptic, Dark Romance

319 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 29, 2024

About the author

Crystal J. Johnson lives in Phoenix, Arizona with her husband, son, and a multitude of rescued animals. She is the author of the Affliction Trilogy, a winner of the 2019 Fiction Awards on Wattpad. Currently, she is working on a new adult fantasy, The Crown Trilogy.

Crystal is a Wattpad Creator and Editor's Choice Author, with over a million reads on the publishing platform.

Along with Felicity Vaughn, she is one half of the writing duo and YouTube personalities, Crystal and Felicity. Their newest novel SPELLBOUND is available wherever books are sold.

You can read all of Crystal's solo books on WATTPAD.

Reviews

[madelaina · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️
the writing is really good, it’s just the plot that’s lacking.

many books overwhelm me with a surplus of metaphors and overcomplicated descriptions, but this one was simple yet professional. however, i was not invested in the plot because it just wasn’t that engaging.
i’m a walking dead girlie so i wanted to find a zombie apocalypse book w some romance, and i saw this advertised on tiktok. it started off super promising with a new girl type of situation but quickly felt like lots of filler. technically a lot of it was advancing the plot in some way but their plans were explained in a boring way so i wasn’t really sure what was going on.
then there’s the romance. it was nawt slow burn in my opinion, and it was not well-developed enough to make me care about the relationship. if they’d gone a book or two more of not being together i might have liked them. i liked river and noah more tbh

overall, it had sooo much potential and there are definitely parts that were decent, but it felt… stale… if that makes sense. props to the author for making a zombie apocalypse romance though! it’s a kinda niche interest but SO good

[Amber's Book Cave · Rating 5 out of 5]

Affliction is a captivating post-apocalyptic story packed with action from the start. The characters, especially Quinn Ellery, undergo great development throughout the narrative, making their struggles and triumphs easy to relate to. The book features excellent banter and gut-wrenching emotion woven into its fabric.

Although I typically shy away from zombie books, this one offers a fresh take on the genre, reminiscent of The Last of Us, with its blend of suspense, minimal romance, and deep emotional impact. Set in a fantasy world, Affliction proves to be a real page-turner that effortlessly keeps readers engaged.

Overall, I highly recommend Affliction to fans of the post-apocalyptic genre. Its compelling narrative, memorable characters, and lingering moments make it a must-read. I eagerly anticipate delving into the next book in this trilogy!

[Victoria · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 Sterne!
Dystopian Zombie-Apocalypse meets Romance ;) ...Genau mein Geschmack!
Als riesennnnn "The Walking Dead" Fan dachte ich mir schon, bevor ich das Buch begonnen habe, dass ich es lieben werde. Trotzdem muss ich zugeben, dass Crystal J. Johnson mich eindeutig überrascht hat und meine Erwartungen sogar übertroffen hat.
Während der erste Teil der "Affliction Trilogy" zwar sehr viel auf Romance basiert, habe ich trotzdem auch die Dystopian-Aspekte sehr genossen.
Tropes wie Found Family - die ich sowieso absolut liebe, sind hier ebenfalls nicht zu kurz gekommen. Anfangs dachte ich noch, dass das Buch vielleicht in Amerika spielen wird (keine Ahnung warum), umso mehr war ich dann jedoch positiv überrascht eine neue Welt zu entdecken.
In den Bewertungen habe ich schon so ein bisschen gesehen, dass der nächste Teil sogar noch viel besser sein soll, dementsprechend freue ich mich schon sehr auf das zweite Buch "Sanctuary".
Wer also TWD liebt, sollte dieser Reihe definitiv mal eine Chance geben, besonders, da das erste Buch sogar nur knapp 300 Seiten hat!!!

[Mansi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my i guess 2nd book of zombies and all and i didn't knew i was going to like it or not and i was in a book slump after a great great book i didn't wanted heavy smut and graphic scenes and this book ohh my god this book was the perfect thing for me i enjoyed it very very much.

I even forgot that i had this in my ARC section (book slump do things to you ifykyk)

Two cousins livings alone ready to help four guys zombie slow burn and minimal scenes but man will you cry YES you will.🥺😩😭
I cried two times and it was worth it ❤️

If you want a good plot minimal smut wanna cry and be a emotional bit*h for somedays dig in sweetheart.
Highly recommended
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 stars (edited my rating)

I enjoyed this while reading it and gave it 4.25 stars but not even a day later I’m like.. why did I like it so much again? The fmc is a little insufferable sometimes and the mmc is just.. okay. The romance was really lacking for me, it was definitely there but it was bland and I wasn’t really rooting for them too hard, I think she was just as compatible with the other 3 guys as much as him.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

ℍ𝕠𝕨 𝕀 ℝ𝕖𝕒𝕕 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝔹𝕠𝕠𝕜: E-Book
ℝ𝕠𝕞𝕒𝕟𝕔𝕖: Medium
𝔼𝕟𝕕𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕋𝕪𝕡𝕖: Open! I am ready for the rest of this trilogy!
•
𝕋𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕤 𝕠𝕟 𝕎𝕣𝕚𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕊𝕥𝕪𝕝𝕖: As much as I enjoyed this writing style it did kind of drag sometimes for me with the FMC’s inner monologue. It was very easy to read and the story was very interesting!
𝔽𝕒𝕧𝕠𝕣𝕚𝕥𝕖 ℚ𝕦𝕠𝕥𝕖: “I’ll beg for you if that’s what you want, Quinn.”
&
“People are a product of their environment, and our surroundings are hostile and ruled by unmitigated evil.“
&
“Victory is a double-edged sword.”
𝔽𝕒𝕧𝕠𝕣𝕚𝕥𝕖 ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣: Chapter 21: I found this chapter adorable and a bit of light within a dark world
𝔽𝕧𝕠𝕣𝕚𝕥𝕖 ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕣𝕒𝕔𝕥𝕖𝕣: Quinn Ellery: I felt her struggle through the story with everything she goes through!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨: This was such a fun read if you love post-apocalyptic vibes! I definitely felt like it has a Last of Us Feel in a whole different type of world than our current one. I absolutely loved this story and was invested every step of the way! I am so excited to get into the next book of this trilogy!
•

[Brianne Klodowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't sure how this book was going to turn out, but once I heard that it was a zombie apocalypse romance I was sold. The writing was simple, but super engaging. It read more like a thriller than a romance. Super character driven, but I enjoyed the plot too. I really enjoyed this overall and will be picking up the next one immediately.

[Augusta Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting take on the post apocalyptic genre with fake continents and ethnicity! But true on the end of the world with the “afflicted” (zombies) trying to eat everyone! Still an interesting journey!

[Angie M Bond · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't think I'd ever read a post apocalyptic zombie book... but I did and loved it. I loved this and ready for more.

[nadin · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF @ 43%

how tf can a fckn zombie apocalypse be that BORING?🥱

[Amanda Bauer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it! Zombie Apocalypse Romance

It’s a great story! Gives me Walking Dead vibes with dystopian romance! Different take on love and I’m here for it ♥️

[Sigrid · Rating 5 out of 5]

im obsessed. as someone who loves a good apocalypse romance is this book just amazing. i love the character development and just the overall plot

[Ash · Rating 5 out of 5]

start and finished in the same day. the zombie apocalypse romance is where it's at.

[Felicity Vaughn · Rating 5 out of 5]

yes, my best friend wrote this book. yes, it's five solid stars.

I am so proud of you, Crystal.

[KPReads · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really, really wanted to like this book more than I did. I love a good apocalyptic, zombie romance novel and this one seemed to have a really interesting structure. The two girls forging a life despite the dangers, the boys coming in and learning to trust them, racing the clock to find medicine, fast zombies, unique world setup.
Unfortunately, it did not deliver. The pacing was odd, the inner dialogue drawn out and going in circles, the FMC seems to make the same mistakes over and over again, but there’s never any repercussions. The number of times a zombie is on top of one of them in the midst of a battle and nobody is bitten? I understand plot armor but when it’s so repetitive it takes away any of the intensity for an action scene.
I think there’s a lot of good in this book and it seems what’s coming next for the group will be interesting, but I was trudging through the book by the end and don’t care to see the next two books through.

[Maddie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this!


Loved the action in this and the found family aspects (Kinda feel like the characters should have been aged up a bit though). The writing is easy to follow and it’s not the most eloquently written book in the world but I knew that going into it, I was just reading it for the fun of it.

The Zs in this was interesting to me too, like how they’re not dead but they act like stereotypical zombies but then they also don’t turn others like the usual zombies do. I liked the unique take on that.

BUT the ending ???? I couldn’t grasp how they had all had this dangerous journey over hundreds of miles to a safe place and then turned around and back into a hell-hole at the last minute. It felt like the whole plot of the book was for nothing. I understand the bond they all shared made them all stick together, and I did like that about the book, but it made me feel like the FMC was a bit selfish for not just trying to go through the border with the rest of them. Realistically I know it’s because it sets you up for the next book but come onnnnnn.

Aside from that, a solid 3 star read, it’s worth delving into!

[Tiffany aka Chai Tea And Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok, I absolutely adore Crystal’s writing, but I wasn’t completely sold on the idea of a zombie apocalypse with a romance. Well this review is me eating crow, because I loved it! Please check the triggers but this story had me hooked and I didn’t want to put it down! The characters were well written and I felt the struggles they were going through. There were twists and turns, and I felt all the emotions while reading it. I can’t wait to continue this series!

Ever since the virus emerged and with it the Z’s, cousins Quinn and River have been fighting for survival in their country that has been quarantined from the rest of the country. When a quartet of men arrive, Quinn is ready to throw them out. But none have the virus, and one is very very sick. And they are all hungry. They can’t just kick them out. Will they come to regret that decision?

Thank you to Literally Yours PR for the copy, all thoughts are my own.

[Vamp Grl · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reads like a Wattpad!
Zombies=Amazing. Romance:Cringe/Too fast.

I saw this advertised on TikTok and was really hyped.
My favourite genre is Zombies / Apocalyptic and enemies to lovers is my all time favourite trope. So naturally I thought this would be a blast.

Unfortunately it wasn’t, it read too much like a YA cringy Wattpad. Which shortly after I found out that it was based on 1direction fanfic repurposed into this.
And it shows sorry.
It has extremely dark themes from the attempted sa, to the kidnapping/slavery of women, but the themes just clash so hard with the cringy romance side of it, as if 2 different people had written them.

The setup was nice, I liked the zombies a lot and they were pretty unique. But the romance was too fast, too cringe and got boring fast. It’s not a slow burn at all like it was being advertised as. The mmc was being possessive over her literally 1 day after meeting her.

The main character was so annoying and unrealistic. Trust developed way too quick and she always did dumb things that got herself and everyone else into trouble. Stubborn and never compromised, just threw tantrums till she got her way or did it her way anyway.

No way in hell I would let anyone in our bunker, even if they where injured, you wouldn’t so much as to give a single bit of info to these people let alone arming them 1 day after knowing them. It would have been smarter to let them all stay upstairs even the sick one by the fire.
If this was 4 old ugly dudes instead of 4 hot men this situation would be so much different, it should of been scary but it wasn’t, read like a fanfiction again.

It didn’t make sense to have these brutal topics but then the mfc be so trusting of these people, in a world like this it’s just so unrealistic, her inner dialog was always explaining how she could NEVER do such things then did them anyway literally 2 minutes after.

Should have scrapped the boyband completely, the only one with any depth to the character was the main guy, the rest felt like accessories to the story and had literally zero depth to their characters.
And after reading I realised that their descriptions never really changed, they are literally just 1direction with new name tags slapped on them.

I didn't like the 4 countries idea either, it wasn’t well explained and it again felt like an accessory to the story. At times I forgot this even was a thing and just kept imaging america and England lol.

The spice was the thing that ultimately put me off this book, I could tolerate the romance a little, I tried to really push myself through it but when it got to the library…
I had to skip them doing the nasty.

I don’t mean to sound so harsh, but I just didn’t like this book and I am greatly saddened by it because I really wanted to like it. I believe the writer is good, especially at the zombies part.

[Hooked On Romance · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 3.7 stars

Good enough to keep me hooked… but oh boy, the FMC tested my patience. 😬

Post-apocalyptic zombie romance is my ultimate favorite trope 🧟‍♀️💔, so I’ll overlook a whole heck of a lot... mainly because there just aren’t enough books in this niche. The setting here is a made-up continent called Stern, where the Z virus outbreak is contained.

Quinn (our FMC) and her cousin River have been surviving thanks to their prepper parents who stocked them up with food, water, and even electricity. They’re holed up in a bunker... pretty much a dream set-up for the apocalypse, unti a group of four men breaks in. One of them is sick, and despite Quinn’s hesitation, River insists on letting them stay so she can nurse him back to health.

The zombie encounters, while not plentiful, were tense enough to keep me engaged (though nowhere near the level of Sarah Lyons Fleming’s stellar writing). Still, I did find myself questioning things like how exactly they fought off hordes without ever running out of ammo. 🤔🔫

Now onto Quinn… my main gripe. At first, it was a minor annoyance: she was adopted at birth by River’s parents, yet she constantly refers to them as “River’s parents,” never her own, even though they raised her in a close-knit family. It came across like she was ashamed of being adopted, and that rubbed me the wrong way.

Worse, Quinn has this contradictory mix of wanting control while pretending she’s always self-sacrificing. The group left her out of a big decision just to avoid her reaction, and honestly, I understood why. And her repeated insistence to Ryland (her love interest) to always save River over her? 🙄 It was framed as noble, but felt more irritating than believable, especially since River already had Noah looking out for her.

That said, this first book in the trilogy did scratch my zombie-romance itch 🧟❤️, even if Quinn grated on me more and more as the story went on. I’m still continuing the series, hoping she redeems herself in the next books. 🤞

[Shannon Heck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cousins Quinn and River have spent the last 2 years surviving a zombie apocalypse. Luckily for them they have a bunker and all the supplies they need. They've survived by keeping the resources and themselves hidden, but suddenly 4 guys tumble into the lives. One of them is sick, and Quinn will need to decided if she and River are willing to open their home and risk themselves.

Who doesn't love a little romance with their zombie apocalypse? Affliction had just the right amount of action and plot. There were exciting parts when the group had to venture out and encounter the zombies, and there was a lot of relationship building. Quinn is hesitant to let anyone into her life, so she has to go through a whole range of emotions as she accepts the guys into her life. Quinn and River also had such a strong bond, and Quinn would have done anything for her cousin, including sacrificing herself. She tries that multiple times. The romance between Quinn and Ryland was slow-burn because it was hard for her to let anyone in, and it was really sweet. The end was frustrating! I did not expect it, but shouldn't have been surprised knowing Quinn. This is a 5 star book and I'm looking for to book 2!

[Smutty Shelf-Love · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review

Let me just say: I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book!

I almost didn’t, because I’m very much into heavy smut books, so I didn’t think this would hold my attention too much.
But I was totally mistaken! I had difficulty putting it down. I look forward to reading the next book !

There were twists and turns that had me smiling then crying (yes I cried at least 2 times).. and that for me is the sign of a good book.

For 2 cousins, River and Quinn, the world as they’ve known it is over. Nothing and no one is safe, they only have each other, isolated but secure in their home. Until they meet 4 guys who need help. Beautiful and deep friendships and love form between all these characters. Nothing is smooth sailing, but every hurdle is worth it!

It’s World War Z meets The 5th Wave meets The Rain, all set in a world very similar to ours. If you like paranormal and fantasy books, you’ll enjoy this. Also, this is about zombies so there are moments of suspense and some gore but not excessive.

To say I fell in love with each of these characters is an understatement. They have their faults but also redeeming qualities that make them relatable and lovable!

[Taya · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is hella awesome! It's super unique and amazing! Everyone who loves fantasy and paranormal books should definitely check this out! This was such a beautiful trilogy, trust me when I say I have never read anything soo amazing !! It was one hell of a masterpiece and I will always thank my lucky stars that I stumbled upon this book. The author made me laugh, cry, clutch my pillow and dance around..Every part of the book was awesome. The characters that have been created have made a place in my heart and they will never leave. The ending was so perfect, it was just brilliant. But also, I am very sad this had to end. I was reading the last few chapters very slowly so that it would end a bit later, lol. I hope this becomes a movie/ tv show and I promise I ll be the first one to see it!!! You deserve all the love the world has to offer. I cant wait to read all your books when you become a Bestselling Author.

[A.H. Monroe · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love The Last Of Us and Resident Evil, this is a must-read! Join Quinn and River in a heart-pounding tale of friendship, love and survival amidst a zombie apocalypse. The bond between Quinn and her niece is heartwarming, giving us a glimpse of family amidst chaos. Quinn, the black cat, and her sunshine niece bring depth to the story. Now, the boys. The first encounter between Quinn and Ryland is gripping - guns drawn, tension high. From there, their slow burn romance progresses. Quinn and Ryland's need to protect mirrors their survival instincts. The group is so tight-knit but they are also so different. From Quinn's niece's arrow skills to each individual's unique contribution. Remember, they're still kids fighting to survive. Action-packed fight scenes, badassery, and unforgettable camaraderie make this a thrilling read! Can't wait for the next book! Bring on more adventures and more of Quinn and Ryland’s epic lovestory.

* I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Keasha M · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is fairly quick paced with situations I'd have never thought of, filled with twists where you never know if a character is going to get bit or die.
This story follows Quin as she and her cousin River survive the Z virus that's turned their continent into a quarantined war zone with the undead. One night they find 4 boys have broken into their home and one of them is really sick, deciding to open there home and help them heal their friend. This leads them on trips into towns and cities searching for the right medicine and facing countless Z's all wanting to rip them to shreds and eat them. Once he's healed they decide to leave the safety of the farm and get to the only Continental crossing and escape the life of being chased by creatures.
While all this is going on Quin has to fight to keep distance between her and Ryland, afraid to give in and be with him knowing he will leave her behind.

[Ashley Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was captivated from start to finish. Think zombies but not quite. They are called the afflicted or Z’s. The story follows two cousins who are 19 and 20. They are alone trying to survive. River and Quinn find themselves with a predicament. There are four young men in their home. One is very sick. They have to decide if they can stay or if they have to force the guys to leave. Now they are tending to the sick guy. With time spent together they form a bond with all the guys. They need medicine for the sick one. Quinn and two of the guys go out to find some. They have to fight off a bunch of Z’s. Now with everyone on the mend they have to decide if they are going home or staying with the girls. It’s decided to try and make it to the border to get to the boys home. It will be a dangerous journey. Will everyone survive? Will they make it?

[Lily Hansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 for this one! I would recommend reading this after reading a more in-depth, have-to-pay-attention-every-second book; that’s what I did and this was a refreshing and easy to read thriller. It was suspenseful in all the right places, kept great pacing, and all the characters are to die for. Even after I’d set the book down for a break, I would be thinking of it and itching to get back to it. I like post-apocalyptic scenarios but to be honest Zombies terrify me… with that being said, the book had less gruesome zombie details - enough to make me get a chill but not enough to make me disturbed, so I appreciated that. Slightly predictable but every time a character would meander on their own I would shiver with anticipation of a zombie attack. Great mix of love, loss, emotion, and thrilling events - would recommend and can’t wait to read the others in the series!

[Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the concept of zombie books. This book was actually really good with the zombie aspect of it. I thought the FMC was actually going to be able to defend herself, but it seems she just had a big ego. There’s nothing wrong with not knowing how to fight in the zombie apocalypse, but she acted like she could do stuff and then almost died. This happened like every time she went outside of the bunker. I actually liked the MMC, though he was a bit controlling for just meeting her. The whole thing with her protecting her cousin was also killing me. She’s a big girl and can protect herself. River also got annoying when she stopped thinking with her head and started thinking with her heart. Those men in their house could have been really bad people and she just didn’t think about that. It was a good book other than that, but it just had a few minor problems.

[Raindrops.and.Books (Scarlett J) · Rating 4 out of 5]

THANK YOU TO CRYSTAL FOR ALLOWING ME TO ARC READ THIS BEAUTIFUL BOOK.

First off...I don’t do zombie books, movies, comic...anything. It’s just simply not my thing. But I have read several of Crystal & Felicity’s books so when I saw Crystal having a solo book I had to read it.
It has your kickass MFC, Quinn, trying to keep her and her cousin alive and safe amongst the Zs. She’s smart, savy, and can handle her own. So when Ryland and his guys come crashing into her world she instinctively is reluctant to help him let alone let him into her life with River or her heart.
This is a slow burn with some s*x scenes but it is angsty and gutwrenching and honestly beautiful! I was on edge several times reading it just to be brought to tears seeing Ryland protect Quinn and for her to open up to him. The plot is great, intense with OMG scenes but such a great story for Quinn and Ryland. I would highly recommend!

[Alyssa Grimes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is just all around fantastic, this is for those of us who loved the walking dead but wanted a bit more *tension*, more romance and just as much chaos! River and Quinn are cousins who are doing well enough in their bunker and enduring what is essentially the zombie apocalypse but never fear- this is done well so it’s not cheesy or campy. Then 4 guys show up in their house with one sick and they end up joining forces, helping one another and eventually some love matches are made too;) Ryland Shaw and his fiercely protective self is the absolute best bc Quinn is so independent and he never makes her feel less than, just lets her know he desperately wants to be there beside her🥹 ugh I loved them, it was just action packed the whole book and I loved it all!

[Haley Brakefield · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot wait to read the second book after finally finishing the first book in this trilogy. It is plot driven, and has a lovely found family trope that I believe was fostered perfectly and not rushed. The romance is very slow burn and angsty which I was expecting to have more of, but I’m not mad about it because it was so well placed among the plot. Sometimes I wanted to smack her cousin River, though, with lots of love, of course, but sometimes with extreme frustration. I think when an author can get you that into characters, they have done something right.

I absolutely recommend if this is your first sci-fi romance read, only go into it realizing that it is going to be a very slow burn and there is no smut and it is not why chose. This is a very homey comfortable read.