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The Dead Weight
Twelve troubled girls. An apocalyptic event. Who will survive, and who is just dead weight?
There used to be twelve of us. We lived behind locked doors, deemed too dangerous for society. But the carrier plague has changed all that. Now that the world has ended, survival is the only thing that matters. So far, I’ve learned two things. First, I was born for the apocalypse. Second, when someone shows you who they really are, believe them... and show no mercy.
---
After failing out of multiple foster homes and narrowly escaping juvenile detention, sixteen-year-old Quinn is undergoing therapy and rehabilitation at a residential treatment center. When Quinn and her best friend, Keisha, sneak onto the roof of the treatment center to look at the stars, they have no idea they’ll be getting a front row seat to the start of the zombie apocalypse.
As zombies, or “carriers” as the news calls them, infiltrate the treatment center, escape becomes essential. Quinn and Keisha make a pact to leave together, but several unexpected tag-alongs complicate their plans.
As the girls battle the carriers and wrestle with their doubts about each other, who will survive and who is just dead weight?
Download now and get a front row seat to the end of the world.
There used to be twelve of us. We lived behind locked doors, deemed too dangerous for society. But the carrier plague has changed all that. Now that the world has ended, survival is the only thing that matters. So far, I’ve learned two things. First, I was born for the apocalypse. Second, when someone shows you who they really are, believe them... and show no mercy.
---
After failing out of multiple foster homes and narrowly escaping juvenile detention, sixteen-year-old Quinn is undergoing therapy and rehabilitation at a residential treatment center. When Quinn and her best friend, Keisha, sneak onto the roof of the treatment center to look at the stars, they have no idea they’ll be getting a front row seat to the start of the zombie apocalypse.
As zombies, or “carriers” as the news calls them, infiltrate the treatment center, escape becomes essential. Quinn and Keisha make a pact to leave together, but several unexpected tag-alongs complicate their plans.
As the girls battle the carriers and wrestle with their doubts about each other, who will survive and who is just dead weight?
Download now and get a front row seat to the end of the world.
334 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 3, 2024
203 people are currently reading
792 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews
October 24, 2025
⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ .....📚'𝙼𝚈 𝚁𝙴𝚅𝙸𝙴𝚆 𝙰𝙽𝙳 𝙾𝚃𝙷𝙴𝚁𝚂'📚 can also be found on my blog:
╰┈➤KITTY KATS CRAZY ABOUT BOOKS
☀︎ 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙳𝙴𝙰𝙳 𝚆𝙴𝙸𝙶𝙷𝚃 ☀︎Is a full length zombie apocalypse series by author Jo Salazar.
Twelve troubled girls. An apocalyptic event. Who will survive, and who is just dead weight?
I was tossing up between 4 stars and 5 but then I sat back and I've honestly not read anything like this before, and I can honestly say that I didn't really even like the main character, she was deadly, not to be crossed, killed without remorse, the list goes on...But the storyline pulls you in...I'm still kind of reeling over this book, so many wtf moments...So this definitely kept me on my toes...I even cringed with one eye open when they came across other survivors because you never knew their demise..
I'm definitely keen to jump into the next book, because seriously wtf with that ending!!
So if this hadn't popped up a few times within a group I'm in I doubt weither it would've come under my radar, the cover has nothing to do with anything, this is a zombie story, a group of wayward girls who follow a daily medicated regime, to waking up to a shitstorm that's overtaken their sanctuary.
This author has no worries killing off its characters, so good rule is don't get attached because you never know what's going to happen to that character, because if your dead weight bringing down the group your out, in some ways you'll be made a sacrifice to save another.
Only the strong and ruthless will survive in this changed world, kill or be killed, take what is theirs and make it your own, no laws to abide by, no one coming to the rescue.
╰┈➤KITTY KATS CRAZY ABOUT BOOKS
☀︎ 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙳𝙴𝙰𝙳 𝚆𝙴𝙸𝙶𝙷𝚃 ☀︎Is a full length zombie apocalypse series by author Jo Salazar.
Twelve troubled girls. An apocalyptic event. Who will survive, and who is just dead weight?
I was tossing up between 4 stars and 5 but then I sat back and I've honestly not read anything like this before, and I can honestly say that I didn't really even like the main character, she was deadly, not to be crossed, killed without remorse, the list goes on...But the storyline pulls you in...I'm still kind of reeling over this book, so many wtf moments...So this definitely kept me on my toes...I even cringed with one eye open when they came across other survivors because you never knew their demise..
I'm definitely keen to jump into the next book, because seriously wtf with that ending!!
So if this hadn't popped up a few times within a group I'm in I doubt weither it would've come under my radar, the cover has nothing to do with anything, this is a zombie story, a group of wayward girls who follow a daily medicated regime, to waking up to a shitstorm that's overtaken their sanctuary.
This author has no worries killing off its characters, so good rule is don't get attached because you never know what's going to happen to that character, because if your dead weight bringing down the group your out, in some ways you'll be made a sacrifice to save another.
Only the strong and ruthless will survive in this changed world, kill or be killed, take what is theirs and make it your own, no laws to abide by, no one coming to the rescue.
November 19, 2024
I'm going to be honest with you, with the cover (though really cool) looking very YA and knowing that the characters were teenagers I wasn't planning to pick this one up until I saw a video of the author and felt like cheering her on but adding to her page read count on Kindle. I wasn't expecting to love the book and I was cool with that. You can imagine how delightfully surprised I was when I found myself absolutely hooked from the get go.
The main character is a pretty unusual one for a lead in a zombpoc and she is written both convincingly and compellingly even though she's not always easy to root for. She felt like a fully realized character and made for a wild and interesting time.
It was at the proverbial edge of my seat quite a few times while reading and Salazar certainly did not shy away from making things high stake, something she made painfully clear was going to be the case very early on.
I had a great time with this book.
The main character is a pretty unusual one for a lead in a zombpoc and she is written both convincingly and compellingly even though she's not always easy to root for. She felt like a fully realized character and made for a wild and interesting time.
It was at the proverbial edge of my seat quite a few times while reading and Salazar certainly did not shy away from making things high stake, something she made painfully clear was going to be the case very early on.
I had a great time with this book.
February 23, 2025
This was so good! I stayed up late, like late late because I could not stop. It’s Dexter meets The Walking Dead. It’s just about the best zombie book I’ve ever read.
October 25, 2024
A perfect read for my 50th book of the year! Zombie apocalypses aren’t usually my go-to genre but my bestie did the audio narration so I had to read it.
The author is a social worker, which adds so much depth and believability to the psychological aspects of the storyline. I didn’t even have to cringe at the medical details because she did such a good job!
The character development was great, even for minor characters. I love that our heroes were female and the amount of gore was excellent.
I’d like a sequel! Highly recommend for anyone who likes psychological thrillers, horror, fantasy, strong female leads, the midwest, and adventures.
The author is a social worker, which adds so much depth and believability to the psychological aspects of the storyline. I didn’t even have to cringe at the medical details because she did such a good job!
The character development was great, even for minor characters. I love that our heroes were female and the amount of gore was excellent.
I’d like a sequel! Highly recommend for anyone who likes psychological thrillers, horror, fantasy, strong female leads, the midwest, and adventures.
April 27, 2025
If you want a unhinged dystopian adventure, then you've found the right book.
I loved how this included so many different aspects of mental health issues a long with survival and how they would deal in these situations. There's always something happening, and it keeps you second-guessing everyone !
I loved all the twists and turns and even had me tearing up at a couple of moments.
There better be a book 2 ! because I need more of Quinn!
I loved how this included so many different aspects of mental health issues a long with survival and how they would deal in these situations. There's always something happening, and it keeps you second-guessing everyone !
I loved all the twists and turns and even had me tearing up at a couple of moments.
There better be a book 2 ! because I need more of Quinn!
November 10, 2025
fantastic, dark, gory
I loved this! True YA Horror. I love Jo & her writing! This one is hard to stomach, but worth it if you can stick it out. 👏🏼
I loved this! True YA Horror. I love Jo & her writing! This one is hard to stomach, but worth it if you can stick it out. 👏🏼
April 29, 2025
So what if Patrick Bateman from American Psycho was a teenage girl? And what if she became embroiled in the zombie apocalypse? How would she survive, and could she thrive? These are the questions The Dead Weight tries to answer.
Let me just start out by saying, don't get this book confused with Dead Weight: Essays on Hunger and Harm. That book is about disordered eating. This book was about Quinn, a 16 year old girl with antisocial personality disorder, who breaks out of a treatment center after a virus/disease creates a zombie outbreak.
I loved this book I stayed up late every night so I could just read one more page. The character development and world building was top-notch in this story. Each character was developed and it was written so that the decisions made by Quinn do not seem out of line or extreme, although of course they were. Quinn is the anti-heroine you love even though you know you should not be rooting for her.
Up until this month, I haven't given any "new read" books read this year five stars. I am rereading Stephen King's library of books and am (re)reading The Dune series, and those have gotten 5 stars. This month I was able to give two books this coveted ranking, this being one of them.
Let me just start out by saying, don't get this book confused with Dead Weight: Essays on Hunger and Harm. That book is about disordered eating. This book was about Quinn, a 16 year old girl with antisocial personality disorder, who breaks out of a treatment center after a virus/disease creates a zombie outbreak.
I loved this book I stayed up late every night so I could just read one more page. The character development and world building was top-notch in this story. Each character was developed and it was written so that the decisions made by Quinn do not seem out of line or extreme, although of course they were. Quinn is the anti-heroine you love even though you know you should not be rooting for her.
Up until this month, I haven't given any "new read" books read this year five stars. I am rereading Stephen King's library of books and am (re)reading The Dune series, and those have gotten 5 stars. This month I was able to give two books this coveted ranking, this being one of them.
August 20, 2025
If you are looking for an amazing zombie novel, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐖𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 is the one to pick up. But fair warning, it might look like a typical YA zombie book on the surface, but it’s definitely far from that. The gore here is not watered down. We are talking graphic, bone-crunching, flesh-ripping detail that does not shy away from the brutality of an outbreak. What makes it even more unsettling is that the encounters with the main characters can feel just as harrowing as the ones with the carriers because their moral compass is not always intact. Survival forces them to make choices that are just as terrifying as the monsters outside, and Salazar does not hold back from showing that. 5-⭐️, not doubt about it.
Read my full review here: https://myspookyways.wordpress.com/20...
(𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪, 𝙅𝙤 𝙎𝙖𝙡𝙖𝙯𝙖𝙧, 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙜𝙞𝙛𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙢𝙖𝙯𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠. 𝙄 𝙘𝙖𝙣’𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙞𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙣𝙚𝙭𝙩 𝙤𝙣𝙚!)
Read my full review here: https://myspookyways.wordpress.com/20...
(𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪, 𝙅𝙤 𝙎𝙖𝙡𝙖𝙯𝙖𝙧, 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙜𝙞𝙛𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙢𝙖𝙯𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠. 𝙄 𝙘𝙖𝙣’𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙞𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙣𝙚𝙭𝙩 𝙤𝙣𝙚!)
October 18, 2025
I really enjoyed The Dead Weight. It’s a book that adults and mature teens would enjoy (it gets pretty gory) At first, we're introduced to troubled teenagers with mental illnesses who are in a group rehabilitation center. Everything is routine, until a zombie apocalypse happens. Quinn is our baddass main character who thrives in this hellscape. She loves killing "Carriers" AKA zombies. She isn't officially diagnosed as being a sociopath because she is so young, but we can figure it out as the book goes on. She definitely has a god complex, deciding which survivors live and who dies. I really loved how exciting this book is, there are always tense moments. There is a good balance with grim, sad parts too. The book ends with Quinn going on a new journey (I won't spoil anything so that is all I'm saying)so I would love to get the next book in this series.
October 15, 2024
The Dead Weight kept me on the edge of my seat - I haven’t read a book this fast in years! I really enjoyed this story. The pacing and tension are A+, the characters are compelling and had me rooting for them even when maybe I shouldn’t be. Definitely recommending this one for a thrilling spooky season read 🎃
October 29, 2024
3.5 stars. While I did enjoy this book, I took a star off for animal cruelty, I abhor animal abuse and I don’t like reading about it. After I got past that? It was really good. Very good narration on the audio book. Actually hoping there’s going to be a sequel. I would have missed a really good book if I had stopped reading because of the animal abuse. It really wasn’t necessary.
January 5, 2025
MY. GOSH! I'm still reeling from the experience of reading "The Dead Weight" by Jo Salazar! This book is a MASTERCLASS in psychological suspense, weaving a web of intrigue that'll ensnare you from page one! I Was so impressed with how engaged I was literally from the beginning. I was so excited about this my husband heard about it like at-least 20x through my entire time reading this! I am so thankful to him for purchasing this for me for Christmas!
Anyways…..
I was ON THE EDGE OF MY SEAT, my heart racing with every twist and turn, as I desperately tried to unravel the mystery alongside the complex, expertly-crafted characters. The author's skillful manipulation of tension and suspense had me utterly INVESTED in the fate of these characters, particularly the protagonist, whose dark past and inner turmoil resonated deeply with me.
As the story unfolded, I found myself drawn into a world of trauma, grief, and mental health, where the lines between reality and illusion blurred. The author tackles these themes with sensitivity and nuance, creating a narrative that's both THOUGHT-PROVOKING and TERRIFYING.
That ENDING?! I'm still trying to pick my jaw up from the floor! The shocking revelations left me BREATHLESS, and the aftermath will forever haunt me. I'm not ashamed to admit I shed a few tears for these characters, so expertly crafted that they felt like REAL PEOPLE, flawed and relatable.
If you're a fan of psychological thrillers, and of course ZOMBIES or just great storytelling in general, YOU OWE IT TO YOURSELF TO READ "THE DEAD WEIGHT"! Be prepared for a WILD RIDE, filled with unexpected twists, turns, and emotional depth. Trust me, you won't regret it!
RIP Nurse Patrick 🤍
Anyways…..
I was ON THE EDGE OF MY SEAT, my heart racing with every twist and turn, as I desperately tried to unravel the mystery alongside the complex, expertly-crafted characters. The author's skillful manipulation of tension and suspense had me utterly INVESTED in the fate of these characters, particularly the protagonist, whose dark past and inner turmoil resonated deeply with me.
As the story unfolded, I found myself drawn into a world of trauma, grief, and mental health, where the lines between reality and illusion blurred. The author tackles these themes with sensitivity and nuance, creating a narrative that's both THOUGHT-PROVOKING and TERRIFYING.
That ENDING?! I'm still trying to pick my jaw up from the floor! The shocking revelations left me BREATHLESS, and the aftermath will forever haunt me. I'm not ashamed to admit I shed a few tears for these characters, so expertly crafted that they felt like REAL PEOPLE, flawed and relatable.
If you're a fan of psychological thrillers, and of course ZOMBIES or just great storytelling in general, YOU OWE IT TO YOURSELF TO READ "THE DEAD WEIGHT"! Be prepared for a WILD RIDE, filled with unexpected twists, turns, and emotional depth. Trust me, you won't regret it!
RIP Nurse Patrick 🤍
July 8, 2025
The Dead Weight by Jo Salazar
"There used to be twelve of us. We lived behind locked doors, deemed too dangerous for society. But the carrier plague has changed all that. Now that the world has ended, survival is the only thing that matters. So far, I’ve learned two things. First, I was born for the apocalypse. Second, when someone shows you who they really are, believe them... and show no mercy."
In The Dead Weight by Jo Salazar, sixteen-year-old Quinn has spent most of her life surviving the system—bouncing between foster homes, dodging juvenile detention, and enduring therapy at a residential treatment center. But when a zombie outbreak, known as the carrier plague, hits the facility, Quinn and her best friend Keisha are forced to flee into a collapsing world. Joined by an uneasy group of survivors, they must navigate both the undead and the emotional weight of their pasts. As loyalties fray and secrets surface, Quinn learns that survival depends not just on strength, but on knowing who to trust—and who to leave behind.
I had no idea I needed a zombie apocalypse book in my life, yet here we are. I randomly saw The Dead Weight on another bookstagrammer's profile and decided to jump right in blindly. Wow!! The heart palpitations that I experienced had my Fitbit going crazy! If you are a fan of thrillers, I highly recommend you zombie walk into The Dead Weight(FYI - the new ones walk really really fast!). You won't be disappointed as this definitely isn't your typical YA book! I had been itching for something different, and The Dead Weight more than scratched that itch. I cannot wait for book 2. Jo - if you need an ARC reader, I am your girl! Consider this my official application. ;)
"There used to be twelve of us. We lived behind locked doors, deemed too dangerous for society. But the carrier plague has changed all that. Now that the world has ended, survival is the only thing that matters. So far, I’ve learned two things. First, I was born for the apocalypse. Second, when someone shows you who they really are, believe them... and show no mercy."
In The Dead Weight by Jo Salazar, sixteen-year-old Quinn has spent most of her life surviving the system—bouncing between foster homes, dodging juvenile detention, and enduring therapy at a residential treatment center. But when a zombie outbreak, known as the carrier plague, hits the facility, Quinn and her best friend Keisha are forced to flee into a collapsing world. Joined by an uneasy group of survivors, they must navigate both the undead and the emotional weight of their pasts. As loyalties fray and secrets surface, Quinn learns that survival depends not just on strength, but on knowing who to trust—and who to leave behind.
I had no idea I needed a zombie apocalypse book in my life, yet here we are. I randomly saw The Dead Weight on another bookstagrammer's profile and decided to jump right in blindly. Wow!! The heart palpitations that I experienced had my Fitbit going crazy! If you are a fan of thrillers, I highly recommend you zombie walk into The Dead Weight(FYI - the new ones walk really really fast!). You won't be disappointed as this definitely isn't your typical YA book! I had been itching for something different, and The Dead Weight more than scratched that itch. I cannot wait for book 2. Jo - if you need an ARC reader, I am your girl! Consider this my official application. ;)
June 23, 2025
I know what happens on page 295 do you ?
Attention besties you will want to cause man what a thrilling wild ride this book was!
A suspense filled psychological thriller that’s Dexter meets walking dead but with teenage girls, comes a riveting story of survival, friendship, love and betrayal.
Best friend Quinn and Keisha are at a psychological treatment facility when the world flips upside and suddenly ZOMBIES (or carriers) are everywhere. Quinn is our 16 year old FMC with antisocial personality disorder and she’s our anti hero because you can’t help but root for her even when you really don’t want too.
Salazar really imbues each character with their own unique personalities really making us care about who makes it out alive.
If you like psychological thrillers,horror, mental health rep, great medical details for trauma and a strong female lead, then this book is for you!
Or maybe you’re just the type of person THAT NEEDS to now know what happens on page 295, guess you gotta read to find out!
Jo was my indie author spotlight a while back and due to a jumble of unfortunate RL events the review never got posted. Thank you Jo for being patient and understanding and I hope this review was worth the wait!
This is a 5 ⭐️ read for me definitely check it out!
Attention besties you will want to cause man what a thrilling wild ride this book was!
A suspense filled psychological thriller that’s Dexter meets walking dead but with teenage girls, comes a riveting story of survival, friendship, love and betrayal.
Best friend Quinn and Keisha are at a psychological treatment facility when the world flips upside and suddenly ZOMBIES (or carriers) are everywhere. Quinn is our 16 year old FMC with antisocial personality disorder and she’s our anti hero because you can’t help but root for her even when you really don’t want too.
Salazar really imbues each character with their own unique personalities really making us care about who makes it out alive.
If you like psychological thrillers,horror, mental health rep, great medical details for trauma and a strong female lead, then this book is for you!
Or maybe you’re just the type of person THAT NEEDS to now know what happens on page 295, guess you gotta read to find out!
Jo was my indie author spotlight a while back and due to a jumble of unfortunate RL events the review never got posted. Thank you Jo for being patient and understanding and I hope this review was worth the wait!
This is a 5 ⭐️ read for me definitely check it out!
October 23, 2025
I got to meet Jo at a book signing, and we shared both our backgrounds working in residential treatment. When we said that's where this book starts, I knew I had to see what it was all about. Between these pages is a captivating story of making a life outside of treatment ... a life of survival amongst the worst of demons, ourselves. This tackles teen emotions, trauma, diagnoses, the complexities of medication, and the violence of surviving in a world not built for you. While I didn't like all the main character's decisions, I will say they made sense for who she is, and were consistent with her personality. The writing was accessible, well-edited, and the story kept me on my toes.
March 17, 2025
This has got to be one of my top favorite reads of the year! I have always been a zombie apocalypse fan so anything with that storyline will get me to dive into it. But this read was top notch!! The impeccable character building and the way the story evolved, twisted and turned kept me hooked from start to finish and I could not put this one down! The pace was incredible and the way the author weaved the horror and psychological aspects along with humanity was literal perfection! I felt like I was right there in it with the girls along for the ride! Such a fun read!! I hope we get a book 2!
May 9, 2025
I really loved this book! It drops you right into the action. The protagonist is somewhere between a survivalist and someone with anti-social personality disorder which makes for a fantastic anti-hero. The zombies having super speed is also a twist that makes this much scarier than the walking dead. will read the next one for sure.
August 24, 2025
Such a unique story line and I loved that the main characters were girls. Bonus points for the author having an LGBTQ character and touching base on mental health issues. This story definitely gives off a Dexter / The Last of Us vibe which I LOVED! The only thing is the ending felt a little rushed to me and I wanted more, hence the 4 stars instead of 5.
November 1, 2025
This was suchhhh a fun take on the apocalypse!! It’s from a different perspective, not the typical ‘we need to be kind to everyone and help people’ nah, just murk everyone in our way because I’m an actual psychopath🤣 also loved how the carriers had to be woken!! Just a great twist on the whole trope
August 9, 2025
4.25⭐ Wow! This was such a surprising read. It was filled with lots of twists and turns, especially in the last few chapters. I mean what could go wrong when you mix a zombie apocalypse with some teens that are dealing with some challenging mental disorders. Well, a lot does go wrong, but it's a bloody good time. Hats off to Jo Salazar. I will for sure be reading the next book in the series.
April 24, 2025
I can't believe the ending
July 7, 2025
Now this was a good post apocalyptic book!! I was in the mood for zombies and this did the trick! Definitely will be reading book two in August when it comes out!
September 7, 2025
3.5 rounded up
November 23, 2025
Quinn was so disturbing. I felt like this was a very different and interesting take on a zombie story. Having it start out at a mental hospital was certainly a choice. I've never read a zombie novel from the bad guys side before and I don't know how I feel about that. Don't let that cartoonish cover confuse you, it's pretty dark!
December 19, 2024
wow. not what i was expecting at all when i stumbled across this book from jo's tiktok and i mean that in the best way possible. the amount of times i was shocked at the twists and turns and probably sat there for a second with wide eyes before reading more. quinn is an incredibly interesting and complex character, one that i don't think is fully understood by any reader nor the characters in the story. as a fellow illinoisan, i absolutely loveddddd this taking place in illinois, especially in a more rural area as it adds a lil somethin extra to the plot. as someone who also reads a lot of zombie/apocalyptic books, the plot was super unique in the sense that everything starts at this point, unlike many novels where the end of the world has already been happening and people have refined their survival skills. this was pretty damn gruesome and i really enjoyed it. looking forward to reading more from the author!
December 25, 2024
A psycho apocalypse thriller that left me shocked!!! I had no idea I needed zombies in my life until I read this book. The main character can be both relatable and captivating with her twisted yet logical thinking throughout the book. My first apocalypse book and I am completely hooked.
February 9, 2025
long review incoming! (spoilers) ୧ ‧₊˚ 🥩🦴 ⋅🧟
Firstly I want to say HOLY SHIT, HOLY SHIT. I was NOT expecting this nor was I expecting to enjoy this as much as I did and this was damn near perfect but you know it’s BAD when you want a certain character to die.
This would’ve been a 5 star read if I didn’t have issues with Quinn but I did. Quinn annoyed me throughout this whole book, she was brave, could handle own her own, and clearly smart (mostly) in a way that helped her until the end, I cannot take that from her but her issues with literally everyone made zero sense, her playing god and killing people for NO reason got OLD REAL QUICK, I mean around every corner here she goes killing someone off because she deemed them unworthy or annoying and the lack of concern for her actions? annoyed me even more. I can see her point just a BIT and I guess when it’s life or death, nothing but your own survival matters but it got to the point where if a person acted in ONE way she deemed unnecessary? it was goodbye for them and she always had a justification for why she did it but never kept that same energy with Keisha.. eye roll. Quinn also hated when people called her out for what she really was and just once I wanted everyone else to see her for what she was. I mean Josh did warn people but hey…
Quinn and Nurse Patrick’s survival skills were unmatched and honestly they should’ve been the last two standing. They could’ve made a GREAT team. Quinn also spent this time worrying about her love life and it was like ma’am you’re in the middle of an apocalypse, why are you worried about feelings for another person and hoping and praying that they see you the same way. I mean Quinn was already infuriating but to add in the unnecessary jealously and feelings felt… weird LMAO. Given what we know about Keisha, Quinn was very STUPID when it came to that girl and It made Quinn look like a simp instead of this strong person we grew to think she was but the more she started to slip and blindly stand by Keisha, it ruined her character even more. Who keeps traveling with someone who made it clear that they weren’t on the same team as you/ using you. Even when Keisha made her TRUE feelings clear, Quinn acted like a desperate man at that point and still tried to justify things and hoped Keisha would see her in a way she clearly didn’t. You can’t make someone want you and Quinn must’ve not gotten that memo. From the start I never got the impression that Keisha had any romantic feelings for Quinn.
Some people may call Keisha wrong but me? I get her 100%. She was doing the same thing Quinn did, Quinn did everything she had to do to survive and Keisha was no different and Quinn did say no matter what she was going to protect Keisha so I don’t know why she acted hurt when she found out that Keisha wanted what Quinn had offered. I will say her trying to Quinn off was so stupid and she clearly didn’t think that through, Why kill Quinn off before you even reach your destination or why kill her off in general? that made no sense to me. I guess they were both stupid. Quinn was so desperate for Keisha to like her and Keisha was desperate for Quinn’s protection that she didn’t think her plan through.
I will say the ending felt rushed. It felt as if the author was like damn i already spent enough time writing so let me just end it with no real conclusion or reason. We’re left with Quinn stocking up on supplies and still making her way towards the planned destination but she realizes she has a nasty cut on her body and we learn nothing else about it which leaves more questions than answers? I’m hoping there will be a second book because It feels like the ending was maybe intended for a second one but if it’s supposed to end here? that’s disappointing because the question is, Is that cut actually a bite that she somehow missed while struggling? Does Quinn even make it there safely? What’s the aftermath all of this? Maybe for the ending you’re supposed to think Quinn made it safely and everything played out and she survived but no, I wish I could get the wrap up of it all
with all that being said it was still an amazing read and I will be going to buy the paperback asap.
Firstly I want to say HOLY SHIT, HOLY SHIT. I was NOT expecting this nor was I expecting to enjoy this as much as I did and this was damn near perfect but you know it’s BAD when you want a certain character to die.
This would’ve been a 5 star read if I didn’t have issues with Quinn but I did. Quinn annoyed me throughout this whole book, she was brave, could handle own her own, and clearly smart (mostly) in a way that helped her until the end, I cannot take that from her but her issues with literally everyone made zero sense, her playing god and killing people for NO reason got OLD REAL QUICK, I mean around every corner here she goes killing someone off because she deemed them unworthy or annoying and the lack of concern for her actions? annoyed me even more. I can see her point just a BIT and I guess when it’s life or death, nothing but your own survival matters but it got to the point where if a person acted in ONE way she deemed unnecessary? it was goodbye for them and she always had a justification for why she did it but never kept that same energy with Keisha.. eye roll. Quinn also hated when people called her out for what she really was and just once I wanted everyone else to see her for what she was. I mean Josh did warn people but hey…
Quinn and Nurse Patrick’s survival skills were unmatched and honestly they should’ve been the last two standing. They could’ve made a GREAT team. Quinn also spent this time worrying about her love life and it was like ma’am you’re in the middle of an apocalypse, why are you worried about feelings for another person and hoping and praying that they see you the same way. I mean Quinn was already infuriating but to add in the unnecessary jealously and feelings felt… weird LMAO. Given what we know about Keisha, Quinn was very STUPID when it came to that girl and It made Quinn look like a simp instead of this strong person we grew to think she was but the more she started to slip and blindly stand by Keisha, it ruined her character even more. Who keeps traveling with someone who made it clear that they weren’t on the same team as you/ using you. Even when Keisha made her TRUE feelings clear, Quinn acted like a desperate man at that point and still tried to justify things and hoped Keisha would see her in a way she clearly didn’t. You can’t make someone want you and Quinn must’ve not gotten that memo. From the start I never got the impression that Keisha had any romantic feelings for Quinn.
Some people may call Keisha wrong but me? I get her 100%. She was doing the same thing Quinn did, Quinn did everything she had to do to survive and Keisha was no different and Quinn did say no matter what she was going to protect Keisha so I don’t know why she acted hurt when she found out that Keisha wanted what Quinn had offered. I will say her trying to Quinn off was so stupid and she clearly didn’t think that through, Why kill Quinn off before you even reach your destination or why kill her off in general? that made no sense to me. I guess they were both stupid. Quinn was so desperate for Keisha to like her and Keisha was desperate for Quinn’s protection that she didn’t think her plan through.
I will say the ending felt rushed. It felt as if the author was like damn i already spent enough time writing so let me just end it with no real conclusion or reason. We’re left with Quinn stocking up on supplies and still making her way towards the planned destination but she realizes she has a nasty cut on her body and we learn nothing else about it which leaves more questions than answers? I’m hoping there will be a second book because It feels like the ending was maybe intended for a second one but if it’s supposed to end here? that’s disappointing because the question is, Is that cut actually a bite that she somehow missed while struggling? Does Quinn even make it there safely? What’s the aftermath all of this? Maybe for the ending you’re supposed to think Quinn made it safely and everything played out and she survived but no, I wish I could get the wrap up of it all
with all that being said it was still an amazing read and I will be going to buy the paperback asap.
November 30, 2024
When I say I want to read a Zombie book... this book is it!.. Quinn is in a girl facility when a Zombie out break happens... Her and Keisha decide it's best to leave prior to them running out of supplies, which will be too late by then... The group that's in this facility with them decide to go with them.. Now I don't believe in spoilers.. So who will survive and who won't? You will need to read this to find out.
I have never missed reading a book until now. I wish I could go back and re-read like it was day one.
Jo Salazar quickly became one of my favorite authors and I look forward to reading her future books.
I have never missed reading a book until now. I wish I could go back and re-read like it was day one.
Jo Salazar quickly became one of my favorite authors and I look forward to reading her future books.
July 28, 2025
3.5 stars… This was reminiscent of the Walking Dead, but with a group of girls from a treatment center who all had a host of mental disorders. The main character, Quinn, was some sort of psychopath. While I thought the writing, plot, and pace were all pretty good, the thing I like about zombie books is the drawing out of humanity in an inhumane world. This book lacks that to a certain extent due to the nature of the narrator.
December 2, 2024
I really enjoyed this book. Quinn is proof that people will do absolutely anything to survive an apocalypse. There were so many twists, and I literally gasped out loud multiple times. Cannot wait to see where this story line goes next!
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